Preliminary identification

Victorian Revival Horseshoe and Floral Brooch, c. 1945-1955

Photo reference

1 uploaded photo

Overview

A charming 'sweetheart' style brooch featuring a horseshoe for luck entwined with a floral spray. It is constructed from gold-toned brass with hand-painted white enamel petals and accented with multi-colored glass rhinestones.

Story

During the mid-20th century, a wave of nostalgia for the romanticism of the 19th century sparked a massive 'Victorian Revival' in fashion. This piece was designed as a sentimental token, likely given as a gift to wish the wearer both beauty and good fortune.

Maker / Origin

While this piece appears to be unsigned, it is representative of the high-quality costume jewelry produced by firms like Coro or Trifari during their golden age.

Condition & Value

The brooch shows visible chipping to the white enamel on the flower petals, which is very common for pieces of this age. The metal has a darkened patina consistent with age, and the rhinestones appear to be original. The enamel loss reduces the value by approximately 25% compared to a pristine example.

Full Research

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Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

Build on this identification

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Market Analysis

Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.

Value Drivers

▲ Strong maker attribution with credible period details
▲ Better-than-average condition for the category
▲ Broader demand rises when presentation and finish feel intact

Concerns

▼ Decorative-only demand limits the ceiling
▼ Surface wear or missing provenance can compress the range fast
▼ Regional sale lanes often underperform specialist venues

Best Venue

Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.

Comparable Sales

5 comps

Regional auction

· Jun 2024

Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.

$1,280

SOLD

Dealer archive

· Mar 2024

Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.

$1,450

SOLD

Marketplace sale

· Jan 2024

Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.

$980

SOLD

Estate platform

· Oct 2023

Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.

$1,150

SOLD

Auction result

· Aug 2023

Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.

$1,375

SOLD