What's it Worth?

Your pin, British in origin, dates from what I call England’s “cusp period” — 1890 to 1915, when Queen Victoria’s rule ended and King Edward’s began. This piece features a hand-painted floral motif on porcelain; without removing its metal back, if you cup your hand around a small flashlight directed at the side of the pin, the face will take on a translucent glow, as porcelain does. To tell whether your pin was decorated at a factory or by one of the many women of that era who painted jewelry as a hobby, you would need to look at the back side of the porcelain itself. If it featured initials or a date, chances are it’s the work of an amateur (which the quality of the artistry also suggests). Regardless of its beginnings, it’s loaded with charm, and worth between $45 and $55.