In the 1860’s and 1870’s, neoclassicism had a resurgence. In American silver, classical images of Greek gods, goddesses, and warriors were portrayed on medallions to resemble coins and currency. Every American silver company had their own medallion pattern that would be used to embellish their silver flatware and hollowware, as well as jewelry items.
This Shiebler sterling silver pin consists of five medallions overlapping to create a bar shape. Each medallion depicts a profile of a Greek god or goddess, engraved with attention to detail and a textured background. The medallions graduate in size so that the central medallion is the largest. A popular trend in neoclassical medallion jewelry was to make items that appeared to have been unearthed in an archeological dig. This one has subtle chips along the corners of the medallion as if it had been excavated from an Ancient Greek ruin.
George W. Shiebler founded his New York silversmith firm in 1876. He introduced his Etruscan medallion jewelry around 1880, which began the popular trend of homeric style jewelry and flatware. He is known as one of the finest silver smiths of the Victorian era.
The pin measures 2.5” x 13/16”. It weighs 10.88 grams. It is marked on the back with the Shiebler maker’s mark, sterling, and the serial # 730.
Circa 1880.
