Circa the 1880’s, this 14k gold bracelet intertwines two popular Victorian love symbols—the buckle and ivy—in an exquisite design that expresses sentiment and everlasting love. The piece has beautiful, tight enamel work; the scrolling cobalt blue ivy is interlaced with black leaves that create a nice, subtle contrast. Behind the enamel work is a stippled texture, done by hand, with clean, crisp sections of a smooth surface that outline the top and bottom. The centerpiece of the bracelet is a detailed buckle, a Victorian motif that represents transcendent love.
The bracelet has beautiful construction and three-dimensionality. The buckle is intricately made and grommeted onto the piece. The back of the bracelet is plain, with no dents, despite its age. The bracelet closes with a secure hidden clasp, built seamlessly into the piece.
Ivy was often seen in Victorian jewelry to represent love, fidelity, and devotion. As ivy is known to intertwine as it grows, it is the perfect symbol of two lives intertwining, and was often used as a symbol of marriage. Buckles were also a popular Victorian motif, made into bracelets and rings to create an eternal loop, and to represent loyalty and a love that endures even into the afterlife.
The bracelet weighs 17.25 grams. It is 1/2” wide and fits up to a 6.25” wrist. Unmarked, but acid tests as 14k gold. The piece is in excellent condition, with a tiny area of enamel loss where the final ivy leaf meets the edge of the bracelet.
A beautiful, romantic piece, sure to capture anyone’s heart.
