Antique Diamond, Silver and Gold Eight Ray Star Brooch, Circa 1900

An antique, diamond star brooch, with a raised, old-cut diamond, in a gold claw setting, in the centre of an eight pointed silver star, each ray set with three, graduating, old-cut diamonds, in grain settings, with single diamond rays, in crown claw settings, on knife edge stalks, mounted in gold, between the points between the points of the silver star, with an approximate total weight of 4.00 carats, with a pin and catch fitting, European, circa 1900.

In Victorian symbolism stars represented direction, wisdom and guidance for the spirit. This was inspired by sailors of previous eras who used stars in the night sky as navigation aids. Stars have been popular motifs since the 17th century, with women of the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian eras adding diamond starbursts to their collections. The appearance of Halley’s Comet, in 1758 and again in 1835, lead to a fashion for star and comet jewellery. This fascination with the solar system and its celestial bodies continued long after Halley’s Comet disappeared from view.