While a lot of antique jewellery worn during the day was focused on mourning and remembering lost loved ones, there was also a lot of jewellery that was celebrating nature and life and enjoyable things like sport and travel. They are often just fun pieces, meant to be a talking point with friends, and were usually meant for day wear.

Interest in nature was very strong during the 19th century, and the pair of Victorian silver acorn drop earrings, below, provide a good illustration of this interest. The earrings are hollow and date about 1885.

Large Victorian silver acorn earrings

Earrings and brooches with birds in flight or just sitting on their nests like those in the photo at the top of the post were common. Earrings and pendants shaped as baskets were made, filled with different items. The little dangling metal basket earrings below, carrying little sticks of coral, are a good example.

Insects were a common theme. The little silver brooch below has a handmade cobweb with a little gold spider in the centre.

Early 20th century silver and gold spider web with spider

The pendant below is similar, except the cobweb is gold and the spider in the centre has a pearl set head and a turquoise set body.

Gold cobweb and spider pendant

All lots of fun and pretty as well.