Loyalty

This Georgian-era navette-shaped brooch houses a sepia painting of a classically draped lady in a wooded landscape with her dog. The absence of any mourning motifs suggests this is a sentimental love token with the dog symbolising unconditional love and protection.

The gold setting has a blue enamel surround studded with white and gold four-leaf clovers for luck. Under magnification there is minor paint loss to the outer edge between 3 and 4 o’clock; the brooch pin is likely a later addition.

Ivory Exemption Ref.: MY367SSK