What is an antique portrait pin?

An antique portrait pin is a piece of jewellery designed to fasten to clothing while displaying a likeness of a person or a classical figure. These items take the form of brooches, pendants, and stick pins. They utilise mediums such as carved shell, hardstone, lava, enamel, and miniature painting. Makers set these portraits into frames made from silver, pinchbeck, and various grades of gold.

How do I wear a portrait pin?

You can secure a portrait pin to the lapel of a jacket, the front of a woollen shawl, or the collar of a blouse. Heavier brooches require sturdy fabric to prevent sagging. Some pieces feature dual loops allowing them to function as both a pendant on a chain and a brooch. Ensure the pin stem fastens securely into its catch before wearing.

How do I tell Victorian pins apart from Georgian ones?

Georgian portrait pins often reflect neoclassical tastes, utilising silhouettes, hairwork, and sentimental love tokens with closed-back settings. They frequently date from the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. The Victorian era introduced widespread shell and hardstone cameo production, often featuring heavier gold frames, floral filigree, and classical mythological subjects inspired by the Grand Tour.

How should I clean my antique portrait pin?

You should clean these pieces gently with a soft, dry cloth to remove surface dust. Avoid submerging shell, lava, or painted miniatures in water or chemical cleaning solutions. Keep moisture away from the reverse of glass-covered miniatures to prevent water damage to the paper or painted surface underneath.