A silver and 15ct yellow gold and diamond triple horseshoe brooch from the Victorian period. Three gleaming statement silver horseshoes have been overlaid onto each other, forming a distinct trefoil shape. A sturdy flared square ended horseshoe nail forms the centrepiece, with all elements having been set with old cut diamonds (1.78ct). The silver top sections have all been expertly backed in 15ct yellow gold to prevent tarnish marking the skin or delicate silks. The horseshoe motif featured prominently in Victorian jewellery, as it was regarded as a symbol of good fortune. Focusing on this brooch as a whole, we can also see the horseshoes and nail representing a three leafed clover or shamrock (the nail alluding to the stem of the clover leaf). The shamrock was also a popular motif in jewellery of the period, as it represented good health, luck, and happiness. Brooches were worn frequently during this period, with multiple examples often being pinned to the outline of a corset. Featuring forty six old cut diamonds, meticulously hand set in grain settings in silver and yellow gold, giving the multi-tonal sheen of the Victorian era.The Victorian era marked a time dedicated to religion and love. Common motifs in the jewellery of the time were birds, flowers and trees: symbolisms drawn from nature.
