DATE: Victorian, c.1880.
A wonderful antique brooch, dating from the Victorian period, circa 1880. It depicts a couple of stork birds, protecting their nest, with three little natural pearl eggs in. Fine gold wire branch details surround the eggs with the addition of feather and branch details. It's crafted in 15k gold throughout with a safety chain. Storks are symbol of fertility and fidelity in ancient mythologies but...
Where do babies come from? Well then...
A perfectly innocent question that can sometimes be quite awkward, even with the most open-minded parents. And with most us, our parents have explained that making babies involves no human involvement at all and that they are simply delivered by storks. We have all seen Disney's Dumbo right? Because I definitely believed this as a child. The image of a stork carrying a baby (or baby Dumbo) in a cloth bundle dangling from its beak is known worldwide, but we rarely question why it’s found on everything from cards and new born gifts.
Storks have been associated with babies for centuries. Many accounts trace the legend back to ancient Greek mythology and Hera, the wife of Zeus, and goddess of women, marriage, family, and childbirth, became jealous of the mortal Pygmy queen, Gerena.
Gerena who was described as a ‘flawless beauty’ was rumoured to be having an affair with Zeus. She was one of many of his lovers that Hera took revenge upon.
Hera turned Gerena into a stork and commanded her to fly away, but Gerena did not want to leave her newborn baby, who may have been fathered by Zeus. She wrapped the baby in a blanket, picked him up in her beak, and carried him off while being chased by members of her own tribe.
STONES
Natural Pearl
MEASUREMENTS
3.7 x 2.4cm
WEIGHT
6.2g
MARKS
No marks present, tests as 15k gold
CONDITION
Excellent
