Antique Silver 'Best Wishes' Sweetheart Brooch, Birmingham 1916

A touching and historically resonant antique sweetheart brooch in silver, hallmarked Birmingham 1916, formed as two open-work hearts set side by side on a bar pin. The left heart carries the inscription "BEST WISHES" in pierced lettering, while the right is pierced with a dove in flight — a symbol of peace and safe return that would have carried particular weight in the year of the Somme. Sweetheart brooches of this type were exchanged between loved ones during the First World War as tokens of affection and hope, and this example retains the quiet emotional power of its original purpose.

The brooch carries full Birmingham hallmarks and is in good condition for its age. A genuinely moving piece of social history that wears beautifully as a brooch today.

Details

• Metal: Silver
• Hallmarks: Full Birmingham hallmarks, 1916
• Origin: Birmingham, UK
• Era: WWI period, 1916
• Design: Twin open-work hearts; "BEST WISHES" inscription and dove motif
• Dimensions: 39mm x 15mm
• Weight: 2.4g
• Condition: Good