Victorian Brooch hot with Celtic Tree of Life Silhouette on Wood

Victorian Brooch with Celtic Tree of Life Silhouette on Wood

Here is a very unusual original mid-Victorian era brooch with with a Celtic Tree of Life Crann Bethadh paper silhouette mounted on a wood back. A good sized brooch, it measures 2 3/8" in width by nearly 3" in height with period correct tube hinge and "c" clasp closure. Mount is a typical 1850's - 60's style in rolled gold, with some solder marks on the back of the brooch and some wear to the rolled gold, but still a very interesting and unique piece of Victorian jewelry!

Trees played a very important part in Celtic life and culture. One of the strongest features in Celtic beliefs was the Tree of Life. The Celtic Tree of Life represented harmony and nature and how they are brought together by the forces of nature. They believed that the deep roots and high branches of the tree connected both the under and uppers worlds to the earths plane. Through this connection the Gods of both worlds could connect and communicate with the people. Each Celtic tribe dedicated a lot of devotion towards these trees and it was common practice to plant a single large tree upon clearing a settlement. Cutting down one of these trees was seen as a great crime and was often an act committed by tribal enemies. The Tree of Life was not simply a form of communication between the gods but also held many other uses. The tree provided a home for animals, shelter from harsh weathers, fire wood for cold nights and cooking and a meeting place for druids to teach and learn. The Celts believed that the tree symbolized wisdom, strength and a long life and was also known as Crann Bethadh (Tree of Life). The Crann Bethadh was thought to represent rebirth and they associated the tree shedding its leaves in fall and hibernating in winter to its “rebirth” in spring. They believed that all mankind came from trees and regarded them as magical beings. To the Celts the trees guarded the lands and were the provided a doorway to the other worlds.

A silhouette is the image of a person, hot animal, object or scene represented as a solid shape of a single color, usually black, with its edges matching the outline of the subject. The interior of a silhouette is featureless, and the whole is typically presented on a light background, usually white, or none at all. From its original graphic meaning, the term silhouette has been extended to describe the sight or representation of a person, object or scene that is backlit, and appears dark against a lighter background. The term silhouette, although existing from the 18th century, was not applied to the art of portrait-making until the 19th century. In the 18th and early 19th century, “profiles” or “shades” as they were called were made by one of three methods:painted on ivory, plaster, paper, card, or in reverse on glass; “hollow-cut” where the negative image was traced and then cut away from light colored paper which was then laid atop a dark background; and “cut and paste” where the figure was cut out of dark paper (usually free-hand) and then pasted onto a light background.

Take a look at my other original Victorian brooches! http://www.etsy.com/shop/victoriansentiments?section_id=7179660