DATE: Victorian, c.1870

Big and bold Victorian horseshoe brooch with the words "GOOD LUCK" engraved around the top - just in case the intent was unclear... It's crafted in sterling silver, dating from the 1870s, with rose gold heel end cap and seven (always seven) rose gold "nails" - four on one side three on the other, as the superstition dictates: seven being the luckiest number. 

Horseshoes have long been associated with good luck, and it's said that the devil cannot enter a house with a horseshoe hung over the door. The "correct" orientation (n or u) remains up for debate... one school of thought boils it down to the perceived density of luck. If luck is considered more dense than air, then the horseshoe should have the ends pointing up (to act like a cup). But if luck is less dense than air it would rise out, so the horseshoe should be mounted the other way round to capture it (like an 'n'). Obviously the contra to this is that you might not want to catch and contain the luck, so apply the opposite logic which will allow the luck to pour out.

MEASUREMENTS 

4.1 x 3.8cm

WEIGHT 

7.2g

MARKS 

No marks present, tests as sterling silver & 9k rose gold

CONDITION 

Very good, light antique patina and wear commensurate with age