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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Dessert58, post: 7130630, member: 78465&quot;][ATTACH=full]421653[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]421652[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]421654[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]421656[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]421655[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]421651[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]421650[/ATTACH] I have been on the lookout for another Flemish heart (of Vlaams Hart) for a while. These jewels are typical for the region where I live(Flanders and the North of France) and they were made and worn throughout the 19th century.</p><p>Sometimes an early 18th century example turns up but nobody really knows what the origins of these jewels are.</p><p><br /></p><p>These hearts were supposed to be given by the children to their mother on Mother&#039;s day (15th of August in Antwerp or the 14th of May in the rest of the world)</p><p><br /></p><p>Two different types exist: ones with a crown of flowers and twigs on top, like the one I can show you here, and ones with an arrow and quiver on top (fiery love).</p><p><br /></p><p>They always have some moving parts: the top, the middle part and heart all move.</p><p><br /></p><p>The middle part is said to depict the virgin Mary, surrounded by her 10 virtues (purity, wisdom, humility, faith, devotion, obedience, poverty, patience, mercy and compassion).</p><p><br /></p><p>These hearts were usually made in silver and sometimes had a gold plated back as not to blacken clothes. The stones are rose cut diamonds or diamond chips (senailles), backed with silver foil and set in closed settings.</p><p><br /></p><p>Normally this one would have had a ring on top on which you could hang the pendant on a black ribbon or a chain.</p><p><br /></p><p>This one has had a rough life. It has a few tiny senailles missing and it has had a few (bad) repairs and for the moment its impossible to wear it because it also misses a needle to the brooch part or a loop to hang it. So I got it for a good price.</p><p>It was sent to me from France.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have actually found the silversmith who made this heart:</p><p><br /></p><p>The &#039;C&#039; stands for Henricus Franciscus Coetermans, Antwerp, and he was active as a silversmith between 1821-1863.</p><p><br /></p><p>But the other mark is a mystery for me.</p><p><br /></p><p>To me, it looks like the French crab (800 silver for the French departements from 1838-1973).</p><p><br /></p><p>How could that be possible? Its a typical Flemish jewelry piece and it was made by this Flemish silversmith in Antwerp.</p><p><br /></p><p>I would suppose there would have to be an import mark for France?</p><p>Is it actually the French crab or is it something else?</p><p><br /></p><p>Thank you very much for your opinions![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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