Victorian Etruscan Revival Garnet Fringe Brooch

When Italian archeologist Alessandro Francois discovered an ancient Etruscan tomb in Italy in 1857, he introduced the world to a wonderment of magnificent gold work the likes which had not been seen since the 4th century BCE. Though not much is known about this ancient civilization, the treasures unearthed by Francois forever changed the world of jewelry. Images of intricately wrought ancient golden jewelry with delicate filigree work and colorful gems captivated the imagination of Victorians and energized many nineteenth-century jewelers to create their own inspired pieces.  Skilled jewelry artisans began incorporating 2,000-year-old Etruscan techniques such as granulation, filigree and scrolled wire work and repoussé into their designs -- and with that, the Etruscan Revival period was born. While all of the pieces of this exquisite brooch were made during the Etruscan revival period of the 1870s, they were all joined together to create this one-of-a-kind brooch at a later date. Howe