Victorian Bohemian Garnet Crescent Moon and Star Pendant Brooch

The night sky has been a source of wonder, mystery, magic and intrigue since the dawn of humankind. For centuries, celestial bodies -- especially the moon and the stars -- have been studied, worshiped, lyricized, romanticized, personified and even immortalized in jewelry. So it should come as no surprise that those sentimental, hidden-message-loving Victorians couldn't get enough of celestial motifs!  In the 19th century, crescent moons in jewelry often represented the glorification of the feminine moon goddess, Selene, and symbolized female empowerment. Crescent moons also represented change and displayed the wearer's desire for a new relationship that would one day develop into marriage, much like a crescent moon eventually turning full. Often complimenting crescent moons in jewelry, stars motifs embodied the need for direction in life and were believed to provide the wearer guidance -- much like how sailors of old looked toward the night sky to navigate their ships through the sea