Rare Pair of Georgian REGARD Turtle Dove Brooches, ca. 1820s

A symbolic and museum-collectable example of acrostic jewels, featuring two doves, mounted with various gemstones, where the gems spell out "regard" - (R)uby (E)merald (G)arnet (A)methyst (R)uby (D)iamond.

The pieces are further accentuated with fine cannetille gold work throughout.

About Acrostic Jewellery and Turtle Doves

In acrostic jewels the first letter of each gemstone spells out a word. Typical examples are words of endearment like "adore", "dearest" and "regard".

The utterly romantic trend of acrostic jewels began in the Georgian era and flourished throughout the Victorian period. It is believed that acrostic jewelry was first created by Jean-Baptiste Mellerio of the House of Mellerio, who started designing jewels with gems that spelled out “j’adore.”

Napoleon Bonaparte admired Mellario’s acrostic designs and commissioned acrostic jewels for both Empress Josephine and his second wife, Empress Marie Louise.

Secret messages of love encoded in gems went perfectly with the Georgian and Victorian love of romance and symbolic meanings. These sentimental jewels would have been gifted to lovers, family members, or even treasured friends.

Further to being acrostic jewels, these doves also represent love and faithfulness, because they mate for life, work together to build nests and raise their young together. They are immortalized in literary and poetic works, such as the Old Testament, and artists like Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser and Buddy Holly.

The Bible depicts doves as loyal, honest and loving. In Leviticus 12:8, two turtle doves replaced a lamb sacrifice. Mary and Joseph sacrificed two turtle doves in Jerusalem at Christ's birth. Turtle doves are still associated with the Christmas tradition.

In Egyptian, Roman and Chinese societies, doves symbolized innocence, long life, peace, devotion and love, and caring for one's family.

In modern cinema, a very beautiful example of turtle doves is given in the film "Home Alone 2", where it is said: “Turtle doves are a symbol of friendship and love. Keep one, and give the other to a very special person. As long as each of you has your turtle dove, you will be friends forever.”