Antique Norwegian marked 925SV silver solje wedding pin brooch 3 x 1.5

Antique Norwegian marked 925SV Norway silver solje wedding pin brooch approximately 3" x 1.5" Hearts & Crown. Very good vintage/antique condition - See detailed pictures. Solje is a type of Norwegian jewelry customarily worn with clothing called "bunad, " the national costuming of Norway.

The word "solje" translates to "shiny" or sunny. These jewelry pieces usually have dangling spoon-shaped elements that reflect light and make them sparkle. According to an early 1900s issue of Hallingen, a magazine for those of Norwegian descent, In the pagan days of Norway, the people were very superstitious and believed in many supernatural creatures.

Among these were the "huldrefolk". Who would snatch people and carry them away. People believed that silver was a protection from them. The tradition of wearing solje stems from these beliefs. The oldest solje items feature buckle closures, and women used these buckles and pins to fasten ribbons around their collars.

Regional variations of solje brooches also developed over time. These designs include hearts, crowns, flowers, and teardrop shapes. It is said that wealthier women would wear larger solje brooches, but they have been made in all sizes. Collar brooches are sometimes worn in tandem with another on the bodice or cuff. It has long been common for wearers of solje jewelry to pass the items down from one generation to the next.

Many ladies of Norwegian descent have collections of solje heirlooms. Small solje are sometimes pinned to babies' pillows for protection, even by modern mothers and grandmothers. Brides in Norway also wear them on their wedding day to ward off the "Mountain King, " just as their ancestors did long ago.

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