One of our favorite things about Valentine’s Day – besides the great opportunities for wearing fabulous jewelry, of course – is the sweet iconography that has come to be associated with this especially romantic holiday. Vintage valentine cards with their imagery of lavish floral arrangements, cute flying cherubs and scenes of old fashioned courtship are just so heartwarmingly sentimental, you can’t help falling in love with their unique throwback charm.

Our newly released collection of vintage brooches was manufactured in Italy in the 1980’s using original antique dies dating from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, with some designs boasting heavy influences from the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements. Some are fantastically on-trend for iconic Valentine’s Day fashion, while other reproductions are perfect for year-round vintage glam.  Their warm golden tones are perfect for brightening up your wardrobe on dreary wintry days, and the images they depict are sure to pique your fancy.

Cherubs, Kittens and Pegasus, Oh My!

Of course, no Valentine’s Day is complete without images of cupids and cherubs everywhere in sight. A glance backward in time shows that the same was true in the Victorian era. Cherubs dancing! Cherubs in flight! Cherubs grasping big red hearts! Our brass brooch collection stays true to the theme. Add in a Pegasus pin, and you’re all set for a darling Greco-Roman display of romantic winged characters.

Vintage Valentine’s Day artifacts also boast a heavy focus on cats. Much like today’s internet fascination with furry felines, Victorian valentines of yesteryear showcase a wide array of all sorts of kitties. You’ll find soft-looking kittens in big bows looking oh-so cute, anthropomorphic cats standing up on their hind legs doing human activities and even particularly sophisticated ones dressed up in period costumes. If you’re taken with these comely creatures and need a Victorian valentine kitty in your life, look no further than this fabulous brass brooch!

Romantic Bohemian Beauties

One does not have to look exclusively at old fashioned valentines to get a sense of romance dating from the mid-twentieth and early nineteenth centuries. Examine works from the Pre-Raphaelite and Art Nouveau movements to find paintings of lovely long-haired ladies surrounded by flowers, often depicted in idyllic settings or framed by botanical graphic borders. This sort of imagery is highly romantic, and perfectly on-trend for this year’s revival of bohemian fashion. You don’t necessarily need to emulate the exact looks of these women by crafting DIY flower crowns or wearing dresses ranging from exceedingly elaborate to scandalously loose. Instead, fasten one of our reproduction vintage brass portrait brooches onto your coat or purse, put on a boho beaded fringe necklace or bangle stack and you’ll be well on your way to a hippie chic look that’s great for Valentine’s Day glamour or year-round panache.

Creatures to Warm Your Heart

There is certainly a lot more to the Valentine’s holiday than retro cards and art history tableaux. Do you like elephants? Is your sweetheart a fan of birds? When gifting yourself or a loved one this Valentine’s Day, you have to be sure to find something charming that will be cherished for years to come. Taking your pick of our iconic animal brass brooches means that you’re selecting a sort of love token with staying power. Our Victorian elephant bauble is nothing short of fabulous, and a shining Art Nouveau bird pin makes a stunning avian addition to any vintage fashionista’s jewelry collection.

This Valentine’s Day, warm your heart and your wardrobe with stunning vintage brass brooches with beautifully romantic iconic themes. They’ll enliven your mood through the last leg of winter, and will easily become favorite baubles for wearing all year.

by Sarah Clark