The striking profile of a bearded man, framed by a banner of flowers, is the focal point of this sterling silver Victorian era brooch. The man in the portrait appears to be a Greek god, with strong, masculine features, a starred helmet, and a beard. The god is very handsome, and his face is expressive and lifelike. The details of the pin are super tight, and the oxidation of the sterling silver gives the pin highlights that further define its imagery. Perhaps the portrait is of Ares, the Greek god of war and courage, who is often depicted with a helmet and beard.
Circa the Victorian era, this brooch is part of the resurgence of neoclassicism that took place during the 1860’s and 1870’s. 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.
The brooch measures 1 5/8” across. It weighs 8.2 grams. It is unmarked but acid tests as sterling silver. The pin stem is a different metal than the rest of the pin.
