Historic New England

Watch Chain

Tortoiseshell watch chain with large oval links and attached tortoiseshell locket with interlocking initials "ON" applied to the front, inside contains two empty compartments with glass bezels.The donor's father, Otis Norcross, most likely owned and wore this watch chain. Otis Norcross served as Bos...

Date: 1860-1880

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 102003

Accession Number: 1937.1370

Pair of Bracelets

Pair of tortoiseshell bracelets with pierced decoration and center plaque with an owl under an umbrella in relief.

Date: 1860-1880

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 102004

Accession Number: 1925.359ab

Necklace

This tortoiseshell necklace is composed of flat, pierced links with serrated edges forming a chain. The chain closes at the center back with an S-shaped clasp. An oval pendant with an inscribed plaque hangs from a central, flat tortoiseshell "o" ring. The plaque is decorated with an owl under an umb...

Date: 1860-1880

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 102005

Accession Number: 1925.360

Pair of Bracelets

This pair of tortoiseshell bracelets are each made from a single sheet of tortoiseshell curled to fit adjustably around the wrist without a closure mechanism. Each cuff is decorated with a circular plaque set with intertwined initials "LT" for the previous owner, Lydia Tripp.

Date: 1860-1880

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 102006

Accession Number: 1931.1792ab

Bracelet

Flat tortoiseshell wrap style bracelet with a beaded edge.

Date: 1840-1880

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 102007

Accession Number: 1932.2744

Bracelet

Flat tortoiseshell bangle style bracelet with painted gold leaf and butterfly design with painted red border.

Date: 1860-1880

Maker: unknown

Material: tortoise shell

GUSN: 102008

Accession Number: 1936.885

Bracelet

Tortoiseshell wrap bracelet with serpent head and gold piqué posé scale design.

Date: 1860-1880

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 102009

Accession Number: 1944.812

Necklace

Tortoiseshell chain necklace with tortoiseshell cross pendant.

Date: 1860-1880

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 102010

Accession Number: 1932.481

Brooch

Oval flat dendritic moss agate brooch set in a metal mount with shell shaped prongs.

Date: 1850-1890

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 102011

Accession Number: 1933.1619

Brooch

Banded agate bar brooch set in a silver scrollwork setting.

Date: 1850-1890

Maker: unknown

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 102012

Accession Number: 1933.1620

Brooch

Brown and white banded agate diamond shaped brooch set in gilt brass mount with scroll work border.

Date: 1850-1890

Maker: unknown

Material: brass (alloy)

GUSN: 102013

Accession Number: 1931.60

Brooch

Oval white and pink chalcedony cabachon brooch set in a silver mount with a border of filigree rosettes, hinged pin and hook on reverse.

Date: 1830-1860

Maker: unknown

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 102014

Accession Number: 1929.564

Brooch

Oval pink agate brooch set in a gilded metal mount with a scrolled foliate border.

Date: 1850-1870

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 102015

Accession Number: 2007.15.25

Brooch

Oval chalcedony brooch set with a spray of flowers in gold and turquoise, gilt metal mount with scroll border and shell prongs, hinged pin and hook on reverse.

Date: 1830-1850

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 102016

Accession Number: 1993.896

Brooch

Oval chalcedony brooch, center features a compartment of palette worked hair decorated with seed pearls and gold wire set within with a floral engraved gold frame, all set in a gold mount with shell shaped prongs, hinged pin and hook on reverse.

Date: 1830-1850

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 102017

Accession Number: 1928.1269

Brooch

Oval mother of pearl brooch set in a gilt metal mount and surrounded by a border of rhinestones, hinged pin and hook on reverse.

Date: 1920-1940

Maker: unknown

Material: glass (material)

GUSN: 102018

Accession Number: 1947.211

Pair of Brooches

Pair of cabochon chalcedony brooches set in gold mounts with foliate borders.

Date: 1850-1870

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 102019

Accession Number: 2007.15.22ab

Brooch

Oval painted enamel brooch depicting two women, one leaning on the shoulder of the other, set in a gold mount with a gold wire rope border, hinged pin and hook and s-shaped loop attachment on reverse.

Date: 1850-1870

Maker: Lacombe, H. (Painter)

GUSN: 102020

Accession Number: 1928.887

Brooch with miniature painting on porcelain

Oval brooch with a miniature painting on porcelain of a portrait of a young woman with red curls and a veil, set in a gold plated mount with an applied frame with scrolls, hinged pin and hook on reverse.

Date: 1850-1870

Maker: unknown

Material: porcelain, gold (metal)

GUSN: 102021

Accession Number: 1946.496

Brooch with miniature painting on porcelain

This circular brooch consists of a miniature painting on porcelain depicting a young girl in Italian Renaissance-style "turban" and dress, resting her head on her hand. The porcelain plaque is set in a gold mount. The brooch closes with a pin and hook on the reverse (the pin is missing).

Date: 1850-1860

Maker: unknown

Material: porcelain, gold (metal)

GUSN: 102022

Accession Number: 1922.773

Brooch with miniature painting on porcelain

Oval brooch with miniature painting on porcelain of a reclining young woman reading a book, set in a gold mount with foliate engraving, hinged pin and hook on reverse.

Date: 1850-1870

Maker: unknown

Material: gold (metal), porcelain

GUSN: 102023

Accession Number: 1927.877

Brooch with miniature drawing

This rectangular brooch is set with a miniature pencil sketch of a kneeling, robed male figure surrounded by a halo. His arms are crossed and he stares at the ground. The sketch on paper is set under beveled crystal. The brooch is surrounded by a gold frame with a reeded border. It closes with a hi...

Date: 1850-1900

Maker: unknown

Material: gold (metal), graphite (mineral), paper (fiber product)

GUSN: 102024

Accession Number: 1920.557

Brooch

This rectangular brooch is decorated with a painted spray of flowers on a black glass ground. The brooch is set in a plain gold mount and closes with a hinged pin and hook on the reverse.

Date: 1850-1870

Maker: unknown

Material: enamel (fused coating)

GUSN: 102025

Accession Number: 1922.224

Brooch with miniature painting

Rectangular brooch with a miniature painting on glass of a castle in black, gray and white tones set in a iron filigree mount over brass with a hinged pin and hook on reverse.

Date: 1830-1850

Maker: unknown

Material: iron (metal), reverse painting on glass (image-making), glass (material)

GUSN: 102026

Accession Number: 1930.333

Cover of a Patch Box

Oval patch box cover with enameled painting on porcelain of a shephardess with two sheep set in gold mount.

Date: 1850-1870

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 102027

Accession Number: 1934.503

Brooch with miniature portrait

This rectangular brooch consists of a miniature painting on porcelain which depicts a woman in Renaissance-style dress holding a lidded urn. The porcelain plaque is set in a gold mount with an applied gold frame with shell and scroll accents. The brooch closes with a hinged pin and hook on the rever...

Date: 1845

Maker: unknown

Material: porcelain, gold (metal)

GUSN: 102028

Accession Number: 1922.772

Brooch

This rectangular brooch is composed of a miniature ink drawing on paper of three red flowers under beveled glass, possibly crystal. The miniature is set in a gold mount with a chased foliate border. The brooch closes with a hinged pin and hook on the reverse.

Date: 1830-1840

Maker: unknown

Material: gold (metal), paper (fiber product), ink and paint application techniques

GUSN: 102029

Accession Number: 1936.873

Brooch in Case

Oval brooch containing daguerreotype of George P. Geer, set in gold mount with beaded edge, hinged pin and hook on reverse. Square leather covered case with satin and velvet lining.

Date: 1851-1860

Maker: Fessenden, Benjamin (Photographer)

GUSN: 102030

Accession Number: 1941.46ab

Brooch

This circular brooch is set with an albumen photograph of Lawrence Rhoades (1842-1910) under beveled glass, surrounded by a tortoiseshell disc that is pinned to an ivory disc back with six metal pins. Each pin is mounted with an orange-colored bead. The brooch closed with a hinged pin and C-clasp (p...

Date: 1864-1880

Maker: Attributed to Rhoades, Lawrence (Maker)

Material: glass (material), tortoise shell, ivory (tooth component), silver and silver alloy, albumen prints

GUSN: 102031

Accession Number: 1943.343

Brooch

Oval brooch with an ink painting on mother of pearl ground of a man in eighteenth century costume set in a gold faceted mount with foliate engraving, hinged pin and hook on reverse.

Date: 1840-1870

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 102032

Accession Number: 1969.93

Brooch

Silver brooch with pierced foliate design set with rose cut pastes, center features a picture of a crowned religious figure with outstretched arms set under a thick piece of glass.

Date: 1850-1900

Maker: unknown

Material: glass (material), silver (metal)

GUSN: 102033

Accession Number: 1940.507

Brooch

Oval brooch with a painting on mother of pearl of Sir Walter Scott and his hound and set in a gold mount with clear opal cover, hinged pin and hook on reverse.

Date: c. 1813-1835

Maker: unknown

Material: glass (material)

GUSN: 102034

Accession Number: 1927.909

Brooch with miiniature portrait of John Smith

Small oval brooch with a miniature ink on paper portrait of John Smith under beveled crystal and set in a gold mount, hinged pin and hook on reverse.

Date: ca. 1813

Maker: unknown

Material: gold (metal), ink

GUSN: 102035

Accession Number: 1917.459

Brooch

Rolled gold brooch in the shape of a hand holding a square between the thumb and forefinger a square set with a blue glass "stone", also set with a diamond on ring finger and a link bracelet with locket charm around wrist, hinged pin and safety clasp on reverse.

Date: 1900-1940

Maker: unknown

Material: glass (material)

GUSN: 102036

Accession Number: 1993.890

Brooch

Silver brooch in the form of a curved sword sheathed in a scabbard, sword blade is engraved with Arabic letters, handle and scabbard set with three cabochon corals and one cabochon turquoise, chain attaches sword to scabbard, hinged pin and hook on reverse.

Date: 1870-1900

Maker: unknown

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 102037

Accession Number: 1969.1894

Necklace

Brown and red seed necklace, about 50 in.

Date: 1870-1925

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 101838

Accession Number: 2006.44.238

Necklace

Flat, smooth brown and red seed necklace tied in complete strand, 26 in.

Date: 1870-1925

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 101839

Accession Number: 2006.44.239

Brooch

Tiger claw brooch with three prong stone set and leaf and berry motif mounted on front. Two jewels missing.

Date: 1870-1880

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 101840

Accession Number: 2006.44.240

Bracelet Clasp

Coral bracelet clasp and findings.

Date: 1840-1860

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 101841

Accession Number: 2006.44.241a-c

Necklace

About 24 inch wood bead necklace with blue textile drop.

Date: 1870-1925

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 101842

Accession Number: 2006.44.242

Necklace

About 20 in wood bead necklace with blue textile drop.

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 101843

Accession Number: 2006.44.243

Charms

Five carved charms, one scarab, two dogs, and two staffs.

Date: 1910-1930

Maker: unknown

GUSN: 101844

Accession Number: 2006.44.244a-e

Knee Buckle

Navette-shaped knee buckle set with pastes in silver collets and gold engraved bezels, steel hinged chape and tongue.

Date: 1775-1790

Maker: unknown

Material: paste (glass), silver (metal), gold alloy, steel (alloy)

GUSN: 101845

Accession Number: 1918.1038

Pair of Shoe Buckles

Pair of rectangular silver over brass shoe buckles with bright cut engraving of rosettes, steel hinged chape and tongues on reverse.

Date: 1800-1808

Maker: unknown

Material: silver (metal), brass (alloy)

GUSN: 101846

Accession Number: 1934.1941ab

Men's shoe buckles in original case

This pair of rectangular men's shoe buckles are curved to fit the top of a shoe. Each buckle is embellished with carefully fitted square and rectangular colorless pastes set in silver, with an engraved gilt metal inner border. The chapes and tongues are steel. The pair are in their original black l...

Date: ca. 1795

Maker: unknown

Material: paste (glass), silver (metal), steel (alloy), gold alloy

GUSN: 101847

Accession Number: 1953.41a-c

Pair of Earrings

Each earring in this pair is composed of blue and colorless rose-cut pastes set in gold prong mounts. The earrings are girandole style, with a top stone from which is suspended a large inverted 'v' of round and tear-drop shaped stones. Hanging from the center stone in the 'v' is a small maltese cros...

Date: ca. 1875

Maker: unknown

Material: glass (material), metal, gilding

GUSN: 101848

Accession Number: 1927.435AB

Cuff Links

Three silver octagonal shaped cuff links, two with an engraved geometric design and one with an engraved floral design.

Date: ca. 1800

Maker: unknown

Material: silver (metal)

GUSN: 101849

Accession Number: 1928.1112-1114

Memorial Ring

This gold band is embellished with repeating rococo scrolls set with black enamel and a raised gold inscription. The center is set with a square, colorless paste in a bezel mount.

Date: 1736

Maker: unknown

Material: silver (metal), gold (metal), glass by composition or origin

GUSN: 101850

Accession Number: 1916.119