Wonderful 19th Century Victorian Turquoise and Split Pearl Double Horseshoe Brooch

This is a really wonderful 19th Century Victorian turquoise and split pearl double horseshoe brooch. In Victorian jewellery, a double horseshoe represents an amplified doubled good luck, enhanced protection and enduring friendship or love. They were very popular in the late 19th Century when there was a surge in superstition, this design combined two symbols to maximise their protective powers. Double horseshoe pieces, particularly these brooches, were often given as "sweetheart tokens" or gifts between friends and lovers, representing an inseparable bond or a promise of shared fortune. In this brooch, the horseshoes are positioned with the ends pointing upwards and this represented the horseshoe as acting as a container to catch and hold good luck for the wearer.

Length of horseshoe: 1cm, Length of brooch: 4cm

Weight: 2.9grams

Condition: General marks, wear, discolouration and dents in keeping with general age and wear. Paste and turquoise with light abrasion and a few nicks, some discoloured. Split pearls have typical surface blemishes and light nacre damage.