RAAF silver and marquisite sweetheart brooch

Round sterling silver brooch set with marquisite in a voided art deco design. A blue and red enamel RAAF other ranks cap badge is mounted centrally. Brooch is fitted with a safety chain, with the maker's logo (an artist's pallette with brushes bearing the initials TLM) moulded into the reverse.

This badge is an example of commercially produced 'sweetheart' jewellery from the Second World War. Often worn by female relatives, girlfriend or wife, the brooches were a symbol of pride, support and affection for a loved one serving in the armed forces. They could be purchased by the women themselves or given as a gift by the serviceman concerned. The jewellery company, Thomas L Mott (TLM) was well known for hand painted portrait brooches during the latter decades of the 19th century and enjoyed renewed patronage after exhibiting at the British Empire Exhibition in London in 1924, displaying their delicate butterfly wing brooches.