Antique 9k Gold Pin, Late Victorian Penca de Balangandã Brooch, 9ct Gold & Horn Charms, 1800s Colonial Cluster Brooch, Ex Voto Talismans

An evocative late Victorian (Penca de Balangandã) brooch, featuring a set of symbolic charms suspended from a decorative engraved bar. Originating from a Portuguese colonial tradition and believed to have Afro-Brazilian spiritual roots, these charms were often worn as protectors, offerings, or talismans of good fortune.

This one-of-a-kind brooch is composed of stained horn and early resin charms mounted on fittings acid-tested positive as 9ct gold (unhallmarked). The bar is also unmarked - acid tested positive as 9 k gold.

The brooch measures approximately 5 × 3.3 cm and weighs 6.4 grams.

It was sourced in Italy from an antique dealer. Its surface displays small but honest signs of time, including some gentle wear on the pin, marks that speak of its age and journey, far more enchanting than anything newly made. Please review the photographs carefully for condition details. Sold as as antique/used item.

This is not just a brooch; it’s a wearable tale of symbolism and folklore, a true collector's piece filled with mystery, power and soul. Symbolises protection against evil, bad luck, or illness.

The five charms include:
* Mano Fico (clenched fist): a protective gesture against envy and the evil eye
* Drum: a symbol of rhythm, ritual, and cultural identity, often used in Afro-Brazilian ceremonies
* Ex Voto Foot: representing prayers for healing, especially for ailments or journeys involving the legs or mobility
* Beetle Horn: an unusual motif representing protection, vitality, and strength drawn from nature
* Pipe: a symbol of rest, ritual, or domestic tradition

These symbolic elements would have swayed gently as the wearer moved, offering protection and presence, now imbued with decades of history and meaning.

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