Cut steel jewellery
Cut steel jewellery is jewellery or dress equipment decorated with small polished steel elements. Many are faceted so that they catch the light. On older objects, the elements may be riveted or screwed to a metal backing plate.
Historical use
The technique became important in eighteenth-century England, with production associated with places including Woodstock and Birmingham. Buckles, buttons, brooches, chains and hair ornaments could be made in cut steel. The term describes construction and material, not one specific maker.
Confusion and condition
Cut steel should be distinguished from marcasite, paste stones, cast iron jewellery and later steel decoration. Look for separate steel elements, their fastening method and any backing plate. Record rust, fractured plates and loose rivets. Aggressive polishing can remove surfaces and details, while water can worsen corrosion.
