Antique Victorian key brooch, late 19th century Victorian key brooches were popular due to their romantic and symbolic meanings, often representing love, affection, or the key to a loved one's heart. The motif was adapted from classical designs, frequently seen in sentimental jewelry of the period, and could symbolize the key to a person's home or heart. These brooches were sometimes part of a set of sentimental jewelry like gate bracelets, which had padlocks and keys to represent fidelity durin