In antique jewellery, Swallows are rich in symbolism and sentiment. They were often used to represent love, loyalty, and safe return, as swallows are known to mate for life and always return home after long migrations. In the Victorian era, a swallow motif was a romantic token — a promise that the giver would return to their beloved, or that love would endure across distance and time.

Worn as brooches, pendants, or charms, swallow designs carried deep emotional meaning, making them a cherished emblem of faithfulness, hope, and everlasting affection. 

This Antique Australian 9ct Rose Gold Double Swallow and Seed Pearl Brooch is a rare and romantic treasure from one of Australia’s most respected early jewellers, Johnson & Simonsen. Fully hallmarked and beautifully crafted, this exquisite piece captures the grace and sentiment of late 19th to early 20th-century design.

Crafted from 15ct rose gold (and Silver for the stick pins), the brooch features two Swallows in flight, each delicately set with natural half seed pearls that shimmer softly against the gold. The Swallows are joined by a fine gold chain, giving the piece a sense of movement — as though the swallows are mid-flight, soaring together through the air.

In antique jewellery, Swallows are a timeless symbol of love, loyalty, and safe return. These faithful birds mate for life and always find their way home, making them a cherished emblem of enduring affection and devotion. To wear a swallow motif was to carry a promise — of love that lasts and hearts that always find their way back to one another.

This brooch is not only a beautiful example of Australian craftsmanship, but also a piece rich with meaning and sentiment. Whether worn on a lapel, scarf, or dress, it adds a touch of vintage romance and elegance — a perfect keepsake for those who treasure jewellery with a story to tell.

STONES
Natural half seed Pearls

MEASUREMENTS
Birds approximately - 2.4cm x 1.4xm
Pins - 6cm 

WEIGHT
4.85 Grams

MARKS
Fully hallmarked for manufacture by Johnson And Simonsen 
‘Compass and Square’ symbol used by Johnson and Simonsen 
15ct gold and the ‘Hanging fleece’ guarantee mark for 15ct gold used by members of the Manufacturing Jewellers Association of Victoria 

ERA
Edwardian

CONDITION
Excellent antique condition.  All the Pearls are original, no nacre loss, no replacements or re-glues.  Hallmarks for Johnsons and Simonsen are crisp and clear to both Swallows.  No repairs or damages.  No issues to note. A rare and exquisite piece of antique Australian jewellery. 

HISTORY OF JOHNSON AND SIMONSEN (1895 - 1914) & H SIMONSEN PTY LTD (1914 - 1927)

The firm of Johnson and Simonsen was established at Swanson Street, Melbourne in 1895 and subsequently beech ‘H. Simonsen Pty Ltd from 1914 to 1927.
They moved to Bourke Street and finally to 25 Little Collins Street.

Jewellers, gem merchants and importers Simonsen became one of the major jewellery manufacturers in Melbourne.  The standard mark of Johnson and Simonsen, then H. Simonsen Pty Ltd was a “Square and Compass” used in conjunction with the guarantee marks of the M.J.A.of Victoria.

Credit: Australian Jewellers: Gold & Silversmiths Makers & Marks. Cavill, Cocks & Grace