Antique Victorian Stick Pin brooch gold natural coral botanical hallmarked (7471)

Antique Victorian stick pin, lapel pin or tie pin brooch. 14k yellow gold and natural coral. Made 19th century circa 1850 - 1870. Origin possibly Italian or English. Unisex - suitable for a man or a woman. 

Measurements: Weight is 4.2 grams. Length approximately 3inches (7.5cm). 

Description : Tie or stick pin with ridged surface to prevent slipping. The terminal or head is a naturally modelled sprig of foliage, berries and twigs made of gold and natural branch coral. The leaves are 'held' in a little ribbon at the tapered end. The coral twigs emerge from the wide, open side of the leaves. Fine modelling and detail of the foliage and little ribbon that catches the leaves at their end. Little berries are golden globules, almost too fine to be seen with the naked eye, but indicating the lengths artist-jewellers went to to make beautiful jewelry, even when it was understated. Beautiful orange colored coral.
Understated elegance. Great workmanship. 

Marks and Metal:   There are 3 partially legible hallmarks on the pin, near the end where it joins the coral and gold: an elongated mark (oval?) with what appears to be a star on the right of the oval; a round mark that is not legible; a mark with the letters J.K, presumably the maker. 
Gold was tested as 14k.   

Condition: Good with negligible wear commensurate with age.  Please see enlarged pictures and don't hesitate to ask questions which we will do our best to answer.   

THE STORY: Nature has always been the inspiration for artists and jewellers. In this case, the jeweller has used the natural form of the coral to form twigs extending from foliage, making it a double play on the nature theme. 
Today, coral is increasingly threatened and large reefs are extinct due to our polluting habits. This makes coral, which is a form of animal life, increasingly rare. It has become protected and we should avoid exploiting the coral reefs that still exist. In this case, the coral is about 150 years old and a beautiful reminder of the wonders of nature and its influence on art and mankind. Wearing an antique coral pin is a unisex statement of both beauty and our recognition of the protection of ecology and our planet.