Joden Girl
Baubles, Bling and Special Things
Many don’t realize that Memorial Day is not meant to be a celebration, nor should we be wishing others a “Happy Memorial Day”. Recognized on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day is meant to be a solemn recognition of those who died while serving in the military. It’s a time of deepest respect and reverence for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Victorians were incredibly sentimental. Many pieces of jewelry from the 19th century are filled with symbolism and emotion. In my quest to find a piece of jewelry suitable for Memorial Day, I came across this brooch. As I began to truly study the piece, I realized just how perfect it was.
Made entirely of 18-karat yellow gold, this brooch takes the form of a sword, complete with a hilt, guard and curved blade.
From grip to tip, this arched blade features three shields. The handle and each shield are painstakingly decorated with intricate micro mosaic pictures. First, let’s examine the handle… it’s a classic grip and guard style. The grip showcases two pink roses. These lovely blooms convey appreciation, gratitude and recognition.
The guard of the sword is decorated with three daisies. In the Victorian era, the white daisy represented innocence and loyalty.
The first shield offers a field of forget-me-not flowers on a background of deep red. These five-petaled blossoms were a favorite of the era… when these tiny blooms were given to someone, it was a promise that you would always remember them and keep them in your heart.
The second bulwark highlights a white dove surrounded by pink roses. Hope, love, and honesty are just a few of the things represented by the dove. In the Bible, a white dove was a symbol of the Holy Spirit bringing a message from heaven.
Finally, the third shield is decorated with a bouquet of pansies… one yellow, one purple and one blue. The pansy bouquet expresses sympathy at a time of loss. These multi-hued flowers also exemplify compassion, remembrance and nostalgia.
And, of course, the sword itself… a time-honored symbol of protection, strength and courage. I simply could not have found a better piece to remember Memorial Day than this lovely micro mosaic sword.
Priced at just $725.00, this brooch is the latest addition to our website. I wish you a meaningful Memorial Day.
“You can go to a museum and look, or come to us and touch.”
Written by Carrie Martin
Photos by Dana Jerpe
