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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Any Jewelry, post: 353234, member: 2844&quot;]Beautiful brooch. I love this style.</p><p><br /></p><p>The other term is &#039;Algerian knot&#039;.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/smile.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":)" unselectable="on" /></p><p>It was introduced in mainland Europe when the French conquered Algeria in 1830, which started another Orientalist craze (you know me and Orientalist).</p><p>By 1840 no self-respecting woman of some means could be without the Algerian knot, whether in jewellery, clothing, accesories or home decor. Preferably all, of course.</p><p><br /></p><p>Algerian knot jewellery started in Continental Europe in the 1830s and continued until the 1860s, so I would date this beauty at least 1860s, which also accounts for the long pin. I don&#039;t see evidence that the pin is a replacement, but it is early morning here.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/wink.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=";)" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Victorian Britain and North America may have caught the Algerian bug a bit later than Continental Europe, but, from what I&#039;ve gathered from DB&#039;s family history, this could well be a Continental piece. So I am comfortable with it being at least 1860s, during that time garnets were already popular, just like later on.</p><p><br /></p><p>It looks like the garnet spray is silver, which is not unusual, because it was thought silver reflected light better than gold. Precious stones were often set in silver, the rest of the jewel would be gold(plated).</p><p><br /></p><p>The garnets are Bohemian, as Obb said, mined in the region of Turnov, just north of Prague. Turnov is not far from Jablonec, but was a garnet centre long before.</p><p>The stones were probably cut in Turnov as well. Rose cut as rufus said.</p><p>From ca 1600 the Austro-Hungarian court took a special interest in steadily increasing mining in Turnov, to combat poverty in the region. Turnov was not only the main garnet source of Europe, but became the main garnet cutting centre of the Western world in the 18th and 19th century.</p><p><br /></p><p>As rufus noted, it looks like the bigger garnet is chipped, and the dark spots on the back could be wear. In which case the brooch would be gold plated. Gold plated still has value, because of the age and the popular design.</p><p><br /></p><p>If your niece is not careful with jewellery, it may be wise to wait until she is? None of my business, I know. (just love jewellery)[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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