Search 0
20,092  PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 35 ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAYNEW ARRIVALS
Sorted by
Per page
JOIN AS A SELLER DEALER LOGIN
Selling Antiques Logo
0
Saved
GIFTS
35 ITEMS ADDED TODAY
Home
Return
Dealer Login
500+ Shops
Dealers
Newly Added
0
Saved
Antiques dealer?
Join as a Seller
Sort Order
Items Per Page
sellingantiques.co.uk
Browse Categories
Sort order
Relevant Links
Items per page
ID #SA1162815
FOR SALE
£450
Email Phone
Save
Victorian Tortoiseshell Piqué Work Brooch, Gold & Silver Inlay, C.1860
For sale by Gillers Antiques Ltd
for sale €527     $572
£450
Gillers Antiques Ltd

Gillers Antiques Ltd

Sellingantiques Verified Since Mar 2023
Browse dealers 400 items
↓ Relevant Links
Id #SA1162815
PDF SHARE
SAVE

Victorian Tortoiseshell Piqué Work Brooch, Gold & Silver Inlay, C.1860

19th century
Description

A fine Victorian piqué work brooch in a quatrefoil form, the dark tortoiseshell richly inlaid with gold and silver stars, dots and scrolls; four domed roundels with beaded rims and a central star. Original long pin with C-catch; gilt mounts. Presented in a period leather box.

Dimensions and weight: approx. 4 × 4 cm; 6.56 g.

Condition: very good for age; tiny nicks to the shell at inner junctions, light wear; inlay largely intact; pin secure.

Legal note: Worked hawksbill tortoiseshell, pre-1947 antique. UK domestic sale permitted. Export outside the UK requires CITES permits; we can arrange the paperwork, with all permit/courier costs borne by the buyer.

Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance.

Declaration

Gillers Antiques Ltd has dated this Victorian Pique Work Brooch to the 1860s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1162815
Description
A fine Victorian piqué work brooch in a quatrefoil form, the dark tortoiseshell richly inlaid with gold and silver stars, dots and scrolls; four domed roundels with beaded rims and a central star. Original long pin with C-catch; gilt mounts. Presented in a period leather box.
fig 1. A Victorian quatrefoil brooch crafted from dark tortoiseshell with gold and silver pique work inlay set inside a fitted plush-lined box.
fig 1. Victorian Tortoiseshell Piqué Work Brooch, Gold & Silver Inlay, C.1860

Dimensions and weight: approx. 4 × 4 cm; 6.56 g.

“
Condition: very good for age; tiny nicks to the shell at inner junctions, light wear; inlay largely intact; pin secure.
Gillers Antiques Ltd

Legal note: Worked hawksbill tortoiseshell, pre-1947 antique. UK domestic sale permitted. Export outside the UK requires CITES permits; we can arrange the paperwork, with all permit/courier costs borne by the buyer.

fig 2. A Victorian quatrefoil brooch crafted from dark tortoiseshell with gold and silver pique work inlay set inside a fitted plush-lined box.
fig 2. Victorian Tortoiseshell Piqué Work Brooch, Gold & Silver Inlay, C.1860

Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance.

Date of Manufacture

Gillers Antiques Ltd has dated this Victorian Pique Work Brooch to the 1860s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1162815
Gillers Antiques Ltd
Gillers Antiques Ltd
Sellingantiques verified Since Mar 2023
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Gillers Antiques Ltd Profile Page

PDF SHARE
SAVE
A Victorian quatrefoil brooch crafted from dark tortoiseshell with gold and silver pique work inlay set inside a fitted plush-lined box.
1 / 12
Archive I A Victorian quatrefoil brooch crafted from dark tortoiseshell with gold and silver pique work inlay set inside a fitted plush-lined box.

Victorian Tortoiseshell Piqué Work Brooch, Gold & Silver Inlay, C.1860

Archive II A Victorian quatrefoil brooch crafted from dark tortoiseshell with gold and silver pique work inlay set inside a fitted plush-lined box. View II
Archive III A Victorian quatrefoil brooch crafted from dark tortoiseshell with gold and silver pique work inlay set inside a fitted plush-lined box. View III
Archive IV A Victorian quatrefoil brooch crafted from dark tortoiseshell with gold and silver pique work inlay set inside a fitted plush-lined box. View IV
Archive V A Victorian quatrefoil brooch crafted from dark tortoiseshell with gold and silver pique work inlay set inside a fitted plush-lined box. View V
Archive VI A Victorian quatrefoil brooch crafted from dark tortoiseshell with gold and silver pique work inlay set inside a fitted plush-lined box. View VI
Archive VII A Victorian quatrefoil brooch crafted from dark tortoiseshell with gold and silver pique work inlay set inside a fitted plush-lined box. View VII
Archive VIII A Victorian quatrefoil brooch crafted from dark tortoiseshell with gold and silver pique work inlay set inside a fitted plush-lined box. View VIII
Archive IX A Victorian quatrefoil brooch crafted from dark tortoiseshell with gold and silver pique work inlay set inside a fitted plush-lined box. View IX
Archive X A Victorian quatrefoil brooch crafted from dark tortoiseshell with gold and silver pique work inlay set inside a fitted plush-lined box. View X
Archive XI A Victorian quatrefoil brooch crafted from dark tortoiseshell with gold and silver pique work inlay set inside a fitted plush-lined box. View XI
Archive XII A Victorian quatrefoil brooch crafted from dark tortoiseshell with gold and silver pique work inlay set inside a fitted plush-lined box. View XII
Enlarged Archival View
Gillers Antiques Ltd

Gillers Antiques Ltd
Telephone 07738 009924
Location
Buckland House
Buntingford
Hertfordshire
SG9 0PY
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/gillersantiques
Verified Since Mar 2023
Items For Sale 400
Items Sold 576
Gillers Antiques Ltd
Gillers Antiques Ltd
Verified Since Mar 2023
View Dealer Info
Location: Buckland House, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, SG9 0PY, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/gillersantiques
Verified
Mar 2023
For Sale
400
Sold
576
A Victorian quatrefoil brooch crafted from dark tortoiseshell with gold and silver pique work inlay set inside a fitted plush-lined box.
Victorian tortoiseshell piqué work brooch, gold & silver inlay, c.1860
Ref: SA1162815
A Victorian quatrefoil brooch crafted from dark tortoiseshell with gold and silver pique work inlay set inside a fitted plush-lined box.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Detail View 6
Detail View 7
Detail View 8
Detail View 9
Detail View 10
Detail View 11
Archival Detail

Strictly Vetted Dealers

Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.

Secure Transit

Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.

The Sustainable Choice

Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectBrooches
  • Period19th century
  • StyleVictorian
  • MaterialTortoiseshell, Gold, Silver
  • ColourDark Brown, Gold, Silver
  • MotifsQuatrefoil shape, gold floral inlay, domed lobes, silver star patterns

This Victorian brooch takes a quatrefoil form in dark tortoiseshell, enriched with gold and silver inlay in star, dot and scroll motifs. Four domed roundels with beaded rims surround a central star, mounted in gilt settings on the reverse with an original long pin and C-catch. The piece rests inside a fitted period leather box lined with cream satin on the inner lid and black plush in the base, secured by a small brass clasp at the front edge. Tiny nicks appear on the shell at the inner junctions, alongside light overall wear while the inlay remains largely intact. Measuring approximately 4 × 4 cm and weighing 6.56 g, the jewel suits a collector of historic personal ornaments or period accessories. It brings a touch of nineteenth-century craftsmanship to a vanity table display, a glass-fronted cabinet, or a designated tray within a dressing room.

FAQs

Pique work is an ornamental technique originating in 17th-century France that reached peak popularity during the mid-Victorian era, involving the inlaying of precious metals like gold and silver into organic materials such as tortoiseshell or horn.

Artisans heated organic tortoiseshell or horn to soften the material before inserting gold and silver wires or cut motifs using heat pressing, which permanently locked the metals in place upon cooling without adhesive.

Authentic period pieces display hand-cut metal inlays flush with or slightly raised from the organic surface, characteristic C-clasp fasteners or tube-and-pin hinges on the reverse, and subtle natural grain within the shell base.

Small antique jewellery items can be mounted inside glass-fronted shadow frames, displayed on velvet jewelry stands on a dressing table, or presented within open velvet-lined trinket boxes to highlight detail.

Tortoiseshell requires protection from high temperature, direct sunlight, and moisture, which cause warping or drying. Clean gently using a dry microfibre cloth and avoid liquid cleaners or chemical polish.
items
Add keywords to the filter
Price
£100
£250000
Era
Period
Style
Material
Origin
Stock Location
Recently Added
Online Payments
Categories