Gold Archeological Revival Brooch, ca. 1870
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GUEST:
I purchased that piece from an antique broker in our area. Basically, I bought it for the gold weight. To keep and not to get rid of, but for an investment.
APPRAISER:
How many months ago or how many years ago did you do that?
GUEST:
I bought it about six months ago.
APPRAISER:
Do you mind me asking how much you paid for it?
GUEST:
I paid right around $800 for it.
APPRAISER:
$800. The gold value six months ago was probably roughly $600. So you did well for a speculation piece. But it's worth a lot more than the gold value.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
It's what we would refer to as archaeological revival jewelry from the 1870s, 1880s. There is really, really fine granulation work to the edges here. And the twisted gold, these are all very, very difficult techniques that were done in jewelry back during the Etruscan and Greek periods, but were brought back when we were excavating Egypt, Rome, Pompeii, and all of these interesting places. Since then, I really don't think anyone's done it as well as they did in this archaeological revival period. You have a very unusual little guy in there. And he's really a very strong character. So it's not what the average woman would go, "That's what I would like to own." But it's what makes it so different. The piece was probably Italian made. It wasn't tourist trade material. It was for people who really appreciated this artform as it is, as a revival piece. If it were just a nice gold brooch, you did a good job. And I would say around $1,000.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
Being what it is makes it more unusual. You're looking at about $5,000 to $7,000 at auction.
GUEST:
Wow, thank you very much.
APPRAISER:
A neat piece.
GUEST:
Yeah. Now I'm really happy that I invested in it.
APPRAISER:
I think you did a good job.
GUEST:
Thank you very much.
APPRAISER:
You're welcome.
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