In some preceding remarks I referred to cheap sham jewellery.  There is a very considerable amount of it made in Birmingham, and “gilt jewellery” is the name by which it is known.  Respecting this trade and its productions I can, perhaps, tell a few of my readers something that may rather surprise them.  Not many years ago I wished to see and purchase some of this gilt jewellery in order to make gay and glorious a Christmas tree—­Heaven forbid, of course, that my friends or myself should adorn ourselves with such baubles.

I went to a manufacturer of these wares to make my purchases, and hoped to buy cheaply.  And I did; at a price indeed that rather astonished me.  For instance, I was shown some brilliant looking brooches of good design and finish, and sparkling with diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, rubies, of rich lustre—­or, I should say, imitations of these precious stones.  I looked at these handsome productions and thought a good price would be asked for them.  I was, as I have hinted however, rather more than astonished to find that I could make a very good selection at from 15s. to 18s. per dozen.

Just fancy, these brilliant brooches adorned with gems of purest ray serene—­that is, to the naked, unexpert eye—­well-fashioned in the matter of workmanship, and looking of, at least, eighteen carat gold, and yet they could be purchased at the rate of from fifteen to eighteen pence each.  What, however, staggered me still more was to find that there was a lower deep still in the matter of price.  On my venturing to remark to the warehouse-man who showed me the articles mentioned, that I supposed they were the very cheapest things in the trade, he remarked, “Oh dear no, we don’t do anything in the cheap stuff line.  If you want that you must go to Messrs. So-and-So, in Blank Street.”

I went to the cheap firm he named in Blank Street, and there sure enough found cheap stuff and no mistake.  Brooches and lockets at 12s. a dozen and even less, and handsome watch chains at the rate of about 10d. each.  I must add, however, that the makers would not dispose of less than a dozen of each article shewn.  Perhaps they could hardly be expected to sell retail at such prices as I have named.

Having obtained the “Open Sesame” to the jewelled caves or warehouses of the gilt jewellers I came away loaded with gems, and my purse but very little lighter.  So well indeed did some of my purchases look when I got them home that I could not see much difference between them and the real articles.  Consequently, when I now see fair ladies gaily bedecked with a superfluity of handsome lustrous trinkets I think of the gilt jewellery trade, and brooches at 15s. per dozen, less a discount doubtless to the trade.