Lustrous Wreath - Vintage Signed UTICA Sterling Silver Faux Pearl & Crystal Rhinestone Brooch (VBR247)

Lustrous Wreath - Vintage Signed UTICA Sterling Silver Faux Pearl & Crystal Rhinestone Brooch. This lovely brooch is crafted from sterling silver hallmarked STERLING SILVER and a makers mark UTICA.  Featuring five faux pearls, numerous crystal rhinestones, vintage styling, and quality craftsmanship. This pretty brooch is made in the form of a wreath, which is adorned with lustrous white pearls and sparkling crystal rhinestones. The back of the brooch features its original pin and secure rotary lock, which is in perfect working order. This vintage brooch would make a wonderful addition to any jewelry collection.

History: Two forms of faux pearls were manufactured in Italy, the earliest, produced from at least the 13th century, and hailing from the ingenious glass workshops of Venice, were imitation glass pearls. Some of these pearls were apparently made from an intriguing mixture of powdered glass, snail slime and egg white.

Origins. Originally, rhinestones were rock crystals gathered from the river Rhine, hence the name, although some were also found in areas like the Alps (the source of the Rhine). Today the name "rhinestone" applies only to varieties of lead glass known as crystal glass.

The story of silver mining began about 5,000 years ago. Silver was first mined around 3,000 BCE in Anatolia, now located in modern-day Turkey. The precious metal helped early civilizations in the Near East, Ancient Greece to flourish.

The term sterling silver denotes any silver alloy in which pure silver makes up at least 92.5 percent of the content. One theory is that the word sterling comes from the name Easterlings—coiners from east German states brought to England during the reign of Henry II (1154–89) to improve the quality of the coinage.

Measurements: Brooch 32.00 mm x 30.50 mm 

Stone Size: Pearl (Faux) 4.20 mm each       Crystal Rhinestones 2.00 mm - 1.00 mm 

Weight: 5.70 grams 

Condition: Good     Note: Some of the Crystal Rhinestones are darker. This can be quite common in vintage rhinestone jewelry. 

Origin: America 

Date: Circa 1960