Need Expertise on This Pin, Please

[iLander]

Several years ago, I bought it from a lady at a yard sale for $50!

She was moving out of the country and her new home in Peru had already been broken into, so she figured she would sell off all her jewelry so it wouldn't get stolen. How weird is that?

If I had more money with me, I could have gotten more goodies, but what can you do?

It's marked 14K, and I'm interested to know if the pearls are real or cultured, or what. If they are natural pearls, is it worth a lot of money? Or at least more than $50?

What do you think?

Please excuse giant dust bunny in corner

 

[kelpie]

It's lovely! I've seen Dover sell similar pins in ebay auctions for 300-500. I'd say you did well.

 

[Art Nouveau]

It is hard to tell from a picture, but I think those look like natural seed pearls. Some have changed color, which is a common occurrence in such pearls in an old piece. Doves were popular in Victorian and Art Nouveau jewelry. Does the piece look old? What does the clasp look like? Is there a safety catch on the clasp. Pins from that era usually do not have a safety catch on the clasp. For $50,I think you got a good deal.

AN