Costume Jewelry Piece, ca. 1840
![](https://www-tc.pbs.org/prod-media/antiques-roadshow/__sized__/Images/DesMoines_20100807_02/201005T04/201005T04_001_web-crop-c0-51__0-52-676x380.jpg)
GUEST:
I got it at an auction several years ago. It was pretty and different, so I got it. The only thing I really knew about it and still know about it is that because the pin is out past the end of it, it's usually pretty old.
APPRAISER:
Well, it is an old piece, and the date of it is about 1840, and it is paste. So it's an old costume piece. But it's set in silver-topped gold, which is the way that they would have set diamond pieces at the time. So this is a very nice piece of costume jewelry, because it's made so much like the old diamond jewelry.
GUEST:
Really?
APPRAISER:
Yes. And it's a beautiful foliate design, and, as you can see, the flower in the center is mounted on a spring.
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
To make it tremble, and that's called en tremblant. So if the lady would have worn this in her hair or on the front of her dress as a brooch, it's meant to capture the light. Everything then was all about capturing the light and the sparkle and the candlelight.
GUEST:
That's cool.
APPRAISER:
I think it's wonderful that you have the original box with it. It's beautiful. What did you pay for it when you bought it?
GUEST:
Probably around $50. That's what I normally would pay, but it's been so long ago, I honestly don't remember.
APPRAISER:
Well, these days, I think, for a beautiful piece of costume jewelry like this, something like this would sell at auction for about $1,500.
GUEST:
You're kidding.
APPRAISER:
Not bad.
GUEST:
Not bad at all!
Appraisal Details
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