A very special and rare Victorian brooch in 18ct yellow gold, c.1880, depicting the miraculous stag of St. Hubert set within a hunting horn — a subject of deep significance in the tradition of European sporting jewellery. The goldwork is of exceptional quality, with fine detail throughout that speaks to the skill of the maker, whose mark JG appears to the clasp.

St. Hubert was a Frankish nobleman and passionate huntsman who, according to legend, encountered a magnificent stag on Good Friday bearing a luminous crucifix between its antlers. The vision transformed him utterly; he renounced his former life, entered the Church, and became the first Bishop of Liège. He is venerated to this day as the patron saint of hunters, and his emblem — the stag within the horn — has been a cherished motif in sporting jewellery, silver, and decorative arts for centuries.

The Details

• Circa: 1880
• Weight: 16g
• Width: approx. 3.8cm
• Hallmarks: Tests as 18ct gold; maker's mark JG to clasp
• Origin: Probably European