Silver Sweethart Brooch.

[Silver Searcher]

It's been a little tough detecting wise lately I'm still waiting for my maine fields to be ploughed, finds have been very thin on the ground to say the least but as they are a good hours drive away, we have to keep goind down regular, just to check them out.

Managed a couple of finds from the tough stubble to put a post together The Silver Sweethart Brooch was a pleasing sight, it has the words MIZPAH across the middle. The date Hallmark is Birmingham, with the letter date b, which is 1799.
Sweethart Brooches were given as a token of affection (hence Sweetheart Brooches) have been in existence for hundreds of years, perhaps even as far back as Roman times.
They flourished during the Victorian era, giving rise to thousands of designs in gold and silver, embracing hearts, lovebirds, flowers and leaves, together with symbols of religious significance such as an anchor or a cross.
The most popular designs contained the mysterious word MIZPAH meaning the Lord watch between me and thee when we are absent one from another (an English translation of Jacob’s and Laban’s words in the book of Genesis Chap.31).
The Boer war and more particularly WW1 and WW11 gave rise to many thousands of these brooches.

The Silver Plated Button is late 1800s and livery with Fear God beneath, and a very unusuall Strap End, which I think could be Saxon

SS

 

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[HISPAN]

nice finds Master hunter

 

[Silver Searcher]

nice finds Master hunter

Thanks freind it's tough at the momment, but it's going to get better

SS

 

[shaun7]

Some unusual bits there mate

Is that a Livery button

 

[Silver Searcher]

Some unusual bits there mate

Is that a Livery button

Yes Mate Livery it's very slow at the momment although we are on over 60 hammered for the year, we should easy top the 100 by Christmas

SS

 

[shaun7]

Some unusual bits there mate

Is that a Livery button

Yes Mate Livery it's very slow at the momment although we are on over 60 hammered for the year, we should easy top the 100 by Christmas

SS

I've lost count, but I think it's 7

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

Beautiful Silver Brooch !!

Keep @ It and HH !!

 

[{Sentinel}]

Colin, I have no doubt of your abilities as your in the top notch of English Diggers on this forum. I really enjoy seeing those sweet Medieval, Celtic, Roman, Saxon, etc. etc. finds that you make over there "brutha"! That's a sweet silver brooch and with the silver count already so high for the year you really don't have much to worry about mate, you can cruise control it for a little while. If I know you, you'll be back into the good stuff VERY soon. HH my friend

 

[Silver Searcher]

Colin, I have no doubt of your abilities as your in the top notch of English Diggers on this forum. I really enjoy seeing those sweet Medieval, Celtic, Roman, Saxon, etc. etc. finds that you make over there "brutha"! That's a sweet silver brooch and with the silver count already so high for the year you really don't have much to worry about mate, you can cruise control it for a little while. If I know you, you'll be back into the good stuff VERY soon. HH my friend

Thanks Josh hopefully I can finish off the year, like you and Jeff started it

SS

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Great looking finds Colin! Love the silver brooch and the coin.
Did you say that this is a button or am I mistaken?

Dave

 

[Silver Searcher]

Great looking finds Colin! Love the silver brooch and the coin.
Did you say that this is a button or am I mistaken?

Dave

No that's the strap end there's no coin, the Button is after the Brooch picture, with Fear God on the bottom

SS

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Great looking finds Colin! Love the silver brooch and the coin.
Did you say that this is a button or am I mistaken?

Dave

No that's the strap end there's no coin, the Button is after the Brooch picture, with Fear God on the bottom

SS

Isn't that funny I thought the "Fear God" item was a silver coin.
Thanks for clearing that up for me Colin.

 

[tuatara]

What source did you use for dating the brooch? Mizpah brooches were popular during Victorian/Edwardian era. And hallmarks on yours look very much like Pierce & Thompson of Birmingham for 1901.

 

[Silver Searcher]

What source did you use for dating the brooch? Mizpah brooches were popular during Victorian/Edwardian era. And hallmarks on yours look very much like Pierce & Thompson of Birmingham for 1901.

Yes looking at it again it is 1901, although the date letters are the same for 1799 and 1901, the Anchor on the Brooch comes before the lion, making it 1901

http://www.silvercollection.it/englishsilverhallmarksBIR.html


SS

 

[tuatara]

What source did you use for dating the brooch? Mizpah brooches were popular during Victorian/Edwardian era. And hallmarks on yours look very much like Pierce & Thompson of Birmingham for 1901.

Could well be 1901, 1799 and 1901 date letter for Birmingham are the same, but I could'nt find a maker for 1799, so you could be right

http://www.silvercollection.it/englishsilverhallmarksBIR.html

SS

My Bradbury's Book of British Hallmarks indicates that the letter shield is 1901. Besides, the style of the brooch is pretty modern (late Victorian or Edwardian). They are very collectible .

 

[Silver Searcher]

What source did you use for dating the brooch? Mizpah brooches were popular during Victorian/Edwardian era. And hallmarks on yours look very much like Pierce & Thompson of Birmingham for 1901.

Could well be 1901, 1799 and 1901 date letter for Birmingham are the same, but I could'nt find a maker for 1799, so you could be right

http://www.silvercollection.it/englishsilverhallmarksBIR.html

SS

My Bradbury's Book of British Hallmarks indicates that the letter shield is 1901. Besides, the style of the brooch is pretty modern (late Victorian or Edwardian). They are very collectible .

Sorry I modified my post before I saw you reply

SS