Martha Washington Shell Pin

The beautiful shell pin is made in sterling silver clad in 18k gold with a 14mm faux South Sea pearl and a blue crystal. Measures approximately 1 1/2" x 1 5/8".  

The card enclosed with the brooch reads:

"This beautiful shell pin is adapted from Martha Washington's shell, a design she used for cross-stitch cushions now in the Mount Vernon collection. Mrs. Washington completed 12 of these shell-patterned cushions over a period of thirty-six years, many of which were used on Windsor chairs. Obviously, this was a tedious project for Mrs. Washington for in June of 1794 she wrote to her niece, "...send me the two bags that has my worked chear (SIC) Bottoms in, as I intend to have them made into something if they are not spoiled and Eaten up with the moth..."