This beautiful brooch was made during the Victorian Period! The Victorian Period is famous for it's very rare elegant hard to find timeless designs! In Japan, damascene was frequently used to decorate the hilts of weapons. It achieved great popularity in Kyoto during the Edo period (1603 to 1868). During the period which followed, however, swords were banned in Japan, putting an end to the age of the shoguns and samurai. Craftsmen who had applied their skills to the beautification of weapons then turned their skill at damascene work to various accessories and decorative items, including jewelry. The design motifs used in damascene jewelry made in Kyoto typically reflect traditional Japanese subject matter: cherry blossoms and other flowers such as iris, landscape scenes (often including Mt. Fuji), butterflies, and birds. By 1936, more than half of the damascene items made in Japan were being exported, mainly to the United States and England. Later the Russians, Spanish and many other countries followed suit with this beautiful style of jewelry! This beautiful pin/brooch would of been entirely hand made out of 14k yellow gold and features a stunning design! The gold smith hand carved it into a rectangular shape and gave it a beautifully textured surface! On top of the textured surface we have gorgeous damascene enamel work! The Damascene enamel is a gorgeous solid black color and is beautifully placed in the center of the gorgeous gold work! The brooch measures 1" long by just under 1/2" wide. The backside includes a classic Victorian Era C pin catch backing. Antique and Vintage jewelry is disappearing at alarming rates. Unfortunately most of the jewelry from this time period has been lost or melted down over the years, please don't miss your chance to own this special piece of history! Weight 3.6gr Tested for 14k gold positively *Due to the age of some of these pieces some items will not be stamped. The National Stamping Act was not enacted until 1906, before 1906 jewelry was not legally required to have a karat mark. This is one way to date items prior to the Art Nouveau time period.