Blue Silver Pin
A blue silver pin brings together cool sterling metal and rich blue enamel, moonstones or sapphires in brooches and novelty pin cushions.
Blue Silver Pin
A blue silver pin spans Edwardian, Art Deco and Mid-Century periods, most often taking the form of a silver and enamel brooch or a novelty pin cushion. Buyers seek these items for their small-scale craftsmanship and distinct coloured glass, enamel or gemstone panels.
The selection here leans heavily towards Scandinavian enamel work alongside British novelty pieces shaped like shoes, animals and vehicles. These varied objects served both decorative attire functions and practical dressing table roles.
Makers from Norway and Britain dominate the styles, incorporating motifs from fluttering butterflies to floral sprays and geometric Art Deco patterns. Each piece captures a snapshot of period design through the combination of silverwork and blue stones.
How they were made
Silversmiths shaped sterling silver and silver gilt into detailed frames, casting novelty cushions and hammering brooch bases by hand. Guilloche enamel was frequently applied in translucent blue layers over engine-turned metal grounds to create patterned depth.
Gemstones such as moonstones, sapphires, chalcedony and diamonds were flush or prong-set into the silver mounts. Butterfly wings and delicate glass elements were also secured beneath protective bezels in specific novelty and Art Deco designs.
Blue Silver Pin Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for blue silver pin among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Silver bulldogs, pugs and cars stand ready to hold stray sewing pins on the dressing table.
What varies in quality
The distinction between tiers rests upon the precision of the enamel work and the crispness of the silver casting. Finer examples display undamaged guilloche patterns and securely fitted stones without excess solder.
Maker attribution and the complexity of novelty forms, such as realistic animal pin cushions with velvet pads, elevate certain pieces above standard production items. Retained gilding and clear hallmarks further separate superior specimens from simpler variants.
Aksel Holmsen·David Andersen·Adie & Lovekin·Rhoda Wager·George W Shiebler·H. Matthews
The Blue Silver Pin Glossary
- Guilloche
- An ornamental engraving technique that etches a precise, intricate geometric pattern into metal beneath translucent enamel. This method creates shimmering light effects across the blue surface.
- Silver Gilt
- Sterling silver that has been coated with a thin layer of gold, often providing a warm contrast to blue enamel panels. It appears frequently in mid-century Scandinavian pieces.
- Pin Cushion
- A small decorative object, often fashioned from silver into the shape of animals or footwear, containing a velvet pad for sewing pins. Edwardian makers specialised in these novelty forms.
- Butterfly Wing
- A technique using real morpho butterfly wings arranged beneath bevelled glass to produce a vivid iridescent blue picture. It gained popularity during the Art Deco era.
- Moonstone
- A feldspar mineral prized for its adularescence, showing a floating billowy light that resembles moonlight. It is common in Arts and Crafts silver jewellery.
Blue Silver Pin: Frequently Asked Questions
How were novelty pin cushions used?
Novelty pin cushions sat on dressing tables or desks to hold sewing pins and needles close at hand during daily tailoring tasks.
Silversmiths shaped them as animals, shoes and vehicles to combine utility with whimsical ornament.
How do I identify an Edwardian silver piece?
Edwardian items often feature delicate openwork, garlands, bows and natural stones like pearls or moonstones set in lighter silver mounts.
Assay office hallmarks and date letters stamped into the metal provide exact verification of the manufacturing year.
What distinguishes Art Deco brooches?
Art Deco brooches rely on geometric symmetry, stylised animal shapes and vibrant guilloche enamel in shades of blue.
They reflect the machine age aesthetic through clean lines and streamlined silhouettes.