A Wheat Sheaf

This Georgian period navette-shaped mourning brooch features a raised sheaf of wheat, the stems created using strands of brown hair and the ears of corn from chopped hair. Set on an ivory ground, the sheaf is tied with an engraved gold ribbon with small sprays of corn painted on each side.

The wheat sheaf was a popular motif in Georgian mourning jewellery and was used to symbolise the harvest or reaping of souls and the resurrection.

The hair is contained within a gold setting with convex glass and a beautiful border of blue foiled enamel dotted and edged with gold. The reverse has a brooch pin with a roll-over safety clip. Fine condition; under magnification there are visible gum marks at the base of the sheaf and around the bow.