Object of the Day: A Gold and Pink Stone Stickpin

This is the first stickpin that I was ever given. Most likely from Britain and dating to the late eighteenth century, this stickpin of gold is set with a pink “stone,” which is another way of saying, “glass.” Pieces of jewelry meant to be worn in informal situations or during the day often featured cut and faceted glass or paste since precious stones were considered the stuff of evening.

Aside from the brilliant color of the stone, what’s most appealing about this stickpin is the shape and chasing of the setting which are typically late Victorian. While we tend to think of this as an era devoid of color in men’s fashions, the opposite was true. A gentleman often wore bold colors in his waistcoat or cravat and would most likely have stickpins such as this one in a wide range of colors to match each combination of textiles.