Busacca Gallery

Presenting an exquisite Victorian English Bulldog head-pin, uniquely crafted and fashioned from vintage brass. This remarkable piece embodies the essence of a rare antique Victorian statement pin brooch badge, boasting both age and rarity. A true testament to the Victorian era's elegance, this brass art jewelry showcases an enchanting stamped design. Every artistic element has been meticulously curated and refined by our discerning eye, ensuring the utmost quality and craftsmanship before being shared with you. These collectibles have been thoughtfully chosen to cater to both artists and collectors, reflecting our dedication to excellence. At the heart of our endeavors lies a specialization in high-end luxury fine art and collectibles sourced from private estates. Our mission revolves around the pursuit of outstanding artistry, as we scour the globe to unearth an eclectic assortment of contemporary, vintage, antique, and collectible items. Each piece, individually handcrafted, becomes a vessel through which we breathe new life into forgotten relics, imbuing them with their own unique narrative. We extend a warm invitation to dealers, galleries, and private collectors, offering a secure platform to register and engage in purchases with us. Embark on a journey with us to rediscover the allure of bygone treasures and join hands in preserving their legacy.

Tin Cut Victorian Jewelry: Tin cut jewelry is a style that emerged during the Victorian era, specifically in the mid to late 19th century. This type of jewelry was characterized by the use of faceted, flat-backed gemstones that were set in closed-back settings, often made of low-grade metal such as tin or base metal. These settings resembled silver or other more expensive materials, but they were actually more affordable alternatives. Key features of Tin Cut Victorian Jewelry: Gemstones: Tin cut jewelry featured various types of gemstones, often in vibrant colors. These gemstones were typically flat-backed and had a shallow cut, with numerous facets on the top surface to enhance their sparkle. Closed-Back Settings: The gemstones were set in closed-back settings, which were designed to protect the stones and enhance their reflective qualities. The closed-back setting also created a more seamless and polished appearance. Affordability: Tin cut jewelry was more affordable compared to traditional fine jewelry made with precious metals like gold or silver. This made it accessible to a wider range of people, allowing them to own and wear stylish pieces. Designs: Victorian era design aesthetics heavily influenced tin cut jewelry. Pieces often featured intricate and ornate designs, such as floral motifs, scrolls, and romantic symbols like hearts and lockets. Popularity: Tin cut jewelry gained popularity during the mid to late 19th century as an alternative to more expensive jewelry options. It was often used for costume jewelry, sentimental pieces, and mourning jewelry. Evolution: Over time, the use of tin and other base metals in jewelry production improved, allowing for more intricate designs and better durability. This eventually led to the development of costume jewelry and other affordable jewelry styles. It's worth noting that while tin cut jewelry is associated with the Victorian era, similar jewelry styles using different materials and techniques have been produced in other time periods as well.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooch

A brooch is a decorative jewelry item designed to be attached to garments, often to hold them closed. It is usually made of metal, often silver or gold but sometimes bronze or some other material. Brooches are frequently decorated with enamel or with gemstones and may be solely for ornament (as in the stomacher) or sometimes serve a practical function as a fastening, perhaps for a cloak.



The earliest known brooches are from the Bronze Age. As fashions in brooches changed rather quickly, they are important chronological indicators. Many sorts of European brooches found in archaeology as usually referred to by the Latin term fibula.



The fibula or fibulae (plural) is an ornamental clasp used by Romans, Greeks, Germanic peoples and also by Celts and migratory tribes in Europe from the Early Bronze Age. They may have replaced fibulae made of more perishable Neolithic materials, such as bone to as late as 800 AD.[citation needed] Fibulae are useful type-objects: carefully catalogued local typologies, dating and distribution of fibulae can help date finds where neither numismatic nor ceramic materials provide a secure date. Fibulae were shaped somewhat like a large safety pin and were used to hold clothing together. They came in many varieties and held prominent significance for the identity of the wearer, indicating ethnicity (until local costume became Romanized) and class. Elaborately designed fibulae were an important part of Late Antique dress, and simpler ones were part of Roman military equipment.



The same types of fibulae can often be found on either side of the Roman limites, both among "Roman" and "barbarian" populations. The cultural interplay of elite objects designed to show status can be quite complex. For example, Lawrence Nees, Early Medieval Art notes fibulae depicted in ivory diptychs of Stilicho and his entourage:



"The type of fibula worn by Stilicho and his son, and by Turcius Secundus, occurs also among metal works of art commonly termed barbarian, as new Germanic figures usurped the symbols of imperial authority. It is likely that this type originated among Celtic groups and came to be adopted as an exotic fashion by Roman aristocrats, becoming 'naturalized' as an important Roman emblem, and then exported".



Ancient fibulae are prized items for collectors since they are well preserved in many cases and are not difficult to obtain; divorced from their cultural context, they still present a variety of shapes and decoration.