Antique Brooches

Aventurine Information and History

Antique Brooches — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 13:28:38 +0000

Aventurine Brooches. Aventurine is a form of quartz which is mostly found in a green color. However, it can also be found in orange, brown, yellow, blue, or grey. It wasn’t until the 18th century that aventurine got it’s name. Before that it was known as the stone of the Amazonians and dates back centuries. Many different cultures have used the stone in jewelry.

Below are some examples and price guides of aventurine brooches including an leaf shaped brooch and a beetle brooch.

AVENTURINE QUARTZ, CULTURED PEARL AND DIAMOND LEAF BROOCH
The aventurine quartz carved to depict a leaf, decorated with 5.5mm-6.5mm cultured pearls and a brilliant-cut diamond, length 5.1cm

Sold for £892.50 inc. premium at Bonhams in 2021

Duck-shaped carved aventurine quartz, round ruby,18k yellow gold (French marks), signed Cartier Paris maker’s mark (Cartier, Société Anonyme), numbered

Size/Dimensions: 4.2 x 2.6 cm
Gross weight: 12.9 grams

Sold for EUR 10,080 at Christie’s in 2023

A beetle brooch set with aventurine quartz, in a naturalistic design with central aventurine quartz cabochon, with brooch pin to the reverse, stamped ‘750’, measuring 34 x 25mm. Total weight 6.8g.

Sold for £120 at Dawsons Auctioneers in 2023

A VINTAGE AUSTRIAN AVENTURINE QUARTZ, ROCK CRYSTAL, GREEN TOURMALINE AND DIAMOND FLOWER BROOCH in 14ct yellow gold, designed as a floral bouquet, the flowers formed of carved aventurine quartz and frosted rock crystal, the rock crystal flowers set to the centre with a round cut green tourmaline, the aventurine quartz set with a round brilliant cut diamond, the stems accented by rose cut diamonds, Austrian assay marks, 8.5cm, 28.3g.

Sold for £500 at Elmwood’s in 2023

Seaman Schepps Gold and Fluted Aventurine Quartz Clip-Brooch
18 kt., one fluted aventurine quartz ap. 50.0 x 49.0 mm., signed Seaman Schepps, with maker’s mark.

Sold for US$1,800 at Doyle New York in 2023

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Brass Brooches

Antique Brooches — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 07:27:12 +0000

Brass brooches can be bought relatively cheaply although designer brooches can fetch far more than the actual worth of the metal. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc and can vary in color. One of the attractions of brass is its resemblance to gold at a fraction of the price. Unlike gold, brass can tarnish.

Below are some examples and price guides of brass brooches including a Chanel brooch and a George Washington commemorative brooch made around 1800.

Yves Saint Laurent Saint Laurent pin brooch badge SAINT LAURENT monogram YSL logo rhinestone gold

Brand: Yves Saint Laurent
Type: Pin brooch
Gender: Women
Material: Brass
Color: Gold
Stone: Rhinestone
Size (HxWxD): 5.2cm x 3.2cm x 5.00mm / 2.04 x 1.25 x 0.19
Condition: Used (very good)
Overall: Deterioration

Sold for US$455 at Bidhaus in 2023

Chanel CC Brooch

Condition Quality: Good

Color: Gold

Material: Brass

Width: 2 in.

Sold for US$1,000 at Pacific Global Auction in 2023

c. 1800, George Washington Commemorative Raised Bust Portrait Brooch, White Glass within a Fancy Gilt Brass Frame

Sold for US$1,400 at Early American History Auctions in 2023

One Carved Miniature Brooch with Red Jewels

carved miniature brooch, carving is placed under glass, 25 round faceted red glass jewels, 1-5/8 x 1-3/8 in., brass, straight bar pin, trombone clasp, 14.7 grams

Sold for US$300 at Brunk Auctions in 2023

Austrian antique Art Nouveau gilt brass brooch or buckle with rhinestones.

Sold for US$40 at Antika Gallery in 2023

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Birds of Paradise Brooches

Antique Brooches — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 14:56:33 +0000

Birds of Paradise Brooches. Birds of Paradise are some of the world’s most dramatic and attractive birds so they are ideal subjects for brooches.

Below are some examples and price guides of Birds of Paradise brooches including a turquoise, ruby and diamond brooch and a Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond brooch.

TURQUOISE, RUBY AND DIAMOND ‘BIRD-OF-PARADISE’ BROOCH, CIRCA 1960
The perched exotic bird flaunting baguette-cut ruby and old European-, single- and round brilliant-cut diamond feathers, accented by circular-cut ruby eyes and fruits, the diamonds together weighing approximately 1.30 carats; pendant fittings; with French assay mark; mounted in 18 karat white gold; dimensions 7.1 x 3.4cm

Sold for HK$38,400 inc. premium at Bonhams in 2023

A CLEEF & ARPELS RUBY AND DIAMOND BIRD OF PARADISE BROOCH
Round rubies, old and single-cut diamonds, 18k yellow gold (French marks) and platinum, 1960s, signed Van Cleef & Arpels, numbered, blue Van Cleef & Arpels case

Sold for CHF 453,600 at Christie’s in 2023

DIAMOND BIRD BROOCH, in 18 ct. gold. depicting a bird of paradise in flight, with diamond set eye. L. 8 cm. 10.3 grams.

Sold for £360 at Etrusca Auctions in 2023

Brooch, BIRD OF PARADISE, silver 925/000, signed GEORG JENSEN DENMARK 925S N° 328 (Arno Malinowski 1933-1944 for G. Jensen), c. 44.3 x 31.2 mm

Sold for €150 at Lopodunum Schmuckauktion UG in 2023

HANDMADE 18K GOLD BIRD OF PARADISE BROOCH WITH RUBY EYE

9.8 dwt. 2 1/8″ high x 2″ wide. Stamped Italy F.J.G.

Sold for US$600 at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in 2023

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Cloisonne Brooches

Antique Brooches — Wed, 10 May 2023 08:02:19 +0000

Cloisonne Brooches. Cloisonné is a way of enamelling an object, whereby fine wires are used to delineate the decorative areas (cloisons in French, hence cloisonné) into which enamel paste is applied before the object is fired and polished. Reference: Victoria and Albert Museum. Cloisonne techniques date back to the ancient world and first developed in the Near East.

Below are some examples and price guides of cloisonne brooches including a brooch by Wiener Werkstätte and an Anglo Saxon brooch.

Wiener Werkstätte
Cloisonné brooch, circa 1910
Brass and enamel, depicting stylised foliate pattern.
3.6 cm diameter
Stamped ‘WW’ monogram.

Sold for £892.50 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2023

William Harper Two-Color Gold, Silver, Baroque Freshwater Pearl and Cloisonné Enamel ‘Firebird’ Brooch
The large pear-shaped brooch of yellow and rose gold set with one baroque pearl and cloisonné orange, yellow, green and blue translucent and opaque enamel of varied geometric patterns, edged by textured gold cock’s comb and spiral terminal, engraved silver back with spiral gold closure, hand engraved and signed H. William Harper, 1994, “The Firebird,” ap. 122 grams gross.

Sold for $8,190 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2021

JAPONISM CLOISONNE ENAMELED BIRD BROOCH, in 9 ct. gold. Depicting a crane bird and floral design, in japonism style with cloisonne enamel. In the manner of Falize. Diam. 2.7 cm. 7.5 grams.

Sold for £110 at Etrusca Auctions in 2023

Late Anglo-Saxon Gilt Cloisonne Brooch with Starburst

11th century A.D. A gilt bronze disc brooch with seven radiating knops to the rim; pin-lug and clasp to the reverse; each lug with inset blue enamel; main body divided into a central starburst with seven D-shaped cells, all filled with blue enamel, white enamel spot to the central field.

Sold for £340 at TimeLine Auctions Ltd in 2022

ENGLISH ARTS & CRAFTS BROOCH, DATED 1917 white metal and cloisonne enamel, applied wire makers marks verso CES/ 1917 (5cm diameter)

Sold for £240 at Lyon & Turnbull in 2022

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Glasgow / Glaswegian Brooches

Antique Brooches — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 09:34:19 +0000

Glasgow / Glaswegian Brooches. Glasgow’s Assay Office was established in 1819 and many Scottish silver brooches were assayed there including some provincial brooches such as Ionian brooches.

Below are some examples and price guides of Glasgow / Glaswegian brooches including a silver plaid brooch and a Cairngorm brooch.

A SILVER PLAID BROOCH AND TWO OTHER BROOCHES
Of open circular form engraved with thistles, applied with central thistle motif set with foiled paste, 78mm diameter, Glasgow 1949-50; a similar oval form brooch set with purple paste, 43mm long, Edinburgh 1961-62 and another similar circular brooch set with clear paste, 33mm diameter, Glasgow 1949-50, all three brooches with marker’s mark WBs (3)

Sold for £255 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2022

A diamond crescent brooch claw-set with graduated old round-cut diamonds, rose-cut diamond details, unmarked; in a fitted box for R Stewart … Glasgow

Sold for £2,200 at Lyon & Turnbull in 2022

A SILVER CAIRNGORM BROOCH HALLMARKED GLASGOW 1949. 4.7cm x 1.1cm, weight 31.1gf

Sold for £60 at Hannam’s Auctioneers Ltd in 2023

IONA – A SCOTTISH PROVINCIAL BAR BROOCH ALEXANDER RITCHIE, GLASGOW 1911 with a knotted pattern to the central bar, each terminal formed of an embossed disc; together with an Iona style penannular brooch, James D Davidson, Glasgow 1902, with zoomorphic motifs

Sold for £340 at Lyon & Turnbull in 2022

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Bronze Brooches

Antique Brooches — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 11:00:28 +0000

Bronze brooches are some of the earliest brooches found. The Romans and Vikings would use them to pin garments. Bronze is ideal for enameling and engraving and many jewelry makers have created miniature works of art in the form of brooches throughout history.

Below are some examples and price guides of bronze brooches including a bronze penannular brooch and a Claude Lalanne brooch in the form of an apple.

A BRONZE PENANNULAR BROOCH, 18TH CENTURY
Of open circular form decorated with an engraved star, 75mm diameter, engraved ownership initials SI to the reverse

Sold for £1,657.50 inc. premium at Bonhams in 2022

CLAUDE LALANNE (1925-2019)
‘Pomme-Bouche’ brooch, Arthus-Bertrand edition, circa 1990
Patinated bronze / patinated bronze
4 x 4 cm / 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 in
Monogrammed CL, signed LALANNE and bearing the mark from the publisher AB PARIS on the reverse

Sold for €4,032 at Christie’s in 2022

Dorothy Dehner
American, 1901-1994
Untitled Brooch, 1977
Signed, dated and inscribed Helena from Dorothy/1977
Bronze with metal pin and fastener
1 3/4 x 2 1/2 x 1/4 inches (4.4 x 6.3 x 0.6 cm)

Sold for $2,520 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2022

Viking Age Tortoise Brooch Pair

9th-12th century A.D. A matched pair of bronze tortoise brooches, each a domed and slightly keeled body with stepped flange rim, dense pattern of low-relief moulded detail including facing figures with pellet eyes; transverse mounting bar and catch to the reverse with loop for attachment of a swag of beads; chain loop to one and short chain to the other.

Sold for £1,000 at TimeLine Auctions Ltd. in 2022

Francois-Xavier Lalanne “Mouton” Bronze Brooch

Artist/Designer; Manufacturer: Francois-Xavier Lalanne (1927-2008); Arthus Bertrand
Marking(s); notes: signed, marking(s)
Country of origin; materials: French; bronze, enamel
Dimensions (H, W, D): 1″h, 1.25″w

Sold for US$900 at Palm Beach Modern Auctions in 2022

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Scottish Brooches

Antique Brooches — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 07:39:37 +0000

Scottish brooches are often of high quality and very desirable. They are often set with Scottish agates or citrine. Prior to 1991, fresh water pearls were also popular.

Below are some examples and price guides of Scottish brooches including a late Victorian bloodstone brooch and a Scottish rite masonic brooch.

A Scottish late Victorian 9ct gold bloodstone and jasper agate brooch. Length 4.7cms. 14.8gms.

Sold for £360 at Fellows in 2022

Cairncross of Perth: A Scottish pearl brooch modelled as snowdrops and set with four Scottish freshwater pearls, modelled in 18ct gold (Length: 4.5cm) This lot has been granted a license from NatureScot, and it contains freshwater pearls legally taken from the wild prior to 27 March 1991

Sold for £1,500 at Lyon & Turnbull in 2022

Victorian Scottish Agate, Sterling, Dirk Pin Featuring agate, bloodstone, jasper and amethyst set in a sterling silver pin mounting measuring approximately 96.4 x 11.7 mm (3.79 x 0.46 in). Gross weight: 11.5 grams.

Sold for US$350 at Fine Estate, Inc. in 2022

33 DEGREE SCOTTISH RITE MIXED METAL MASONIC PIN

Mixed metals including 14k gold (tested) set with semi-precious gemstones. 2 1/2 inches. 1 troy ounce

Sold for US$700 at John McInnis Auctioneers, LLC in 2022

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Filigree Brooches

Antique Brooches — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 06:46:28 +0000

Filigree Brooches. Filigree is a form of intricate metalwork used in jewelry and other small forms of metalwork.

In jewelry, it is usually of gold and silver, made with tiny beads or twisted threads, or both in combination, soldered together or to the surface of an object of the same metal and arranged in artistic motifs. It often suggests lace and remains popular in Indian and other Asian metalwork. It was popular as well in Italian, French and Portuguese metalwork from 1660 to the late 19th century. It should not be confused with ajoure jewelry work, the ajoure technique consisting of drilling holes in objects made of sheet metal. Reference: Wikipedia.

Below are some examples and price guides of filigree brooches including an antique platinum, emerald and diamond brooch and a carnelian intaglio.

AN ANTIQUE PLATINUM, EMERALD AND DIAMOND BROOCH, CIRCA 1915
Centering a gold collet-set square-cut emerald weighing approximately 1.35 carats, accented by European and rose-cut diamonds in a filigree mount, length 2 in.

Sold for US$3,187.50 at Bonhams in 2022

Gold, Colored Diamond and Diamond Filigree Bar Brooch
One yellowish brown old European-cut diamond ap. 3.75 cts., 2 orangy brown old-mine and old European-cut diamonds ap. 3.40 cts., 47 old European and single-cut diamonds ap. 1.30 cts., one small diamond missing, ap. 5.5 dwts.

Sold for $6,300 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2022

Vintage Filigree Silver & Turquoise Beaded Brooch. Measures approx. – 2 1/8″ long. Weight – 13 grams.

Sold for US$100 at Antiques & Art International in 2022

Vintage Art Deco Brooch with Old European Cut Diamonds. This wonderful brooch features 7.00cts carats of diamonds spread across a lattice of delicate platinum. The outline of the design is somewhat of an oval shape and inside are intricate filigree diamond frames that form a beautiful border. Further inside are symmetrical diamond outlines done in milgrain detail holding a section of old cut diamonds. In the center of this brooch you will find a beautiful Old-European Cut diamond of about 1.50ct in weight. Perfect brooch to be worn on a shawl or belt. Measures: 3.25inches in length and 1.75inches in width. Single pin closure.

Sold for US$6,700 at Bidhaus in 2022

Carnelian intaglio brooch (Spilla intaglio in corniola)1860

Depicting the profile of Mercurius with his winged helmet and traveler’s cloak within a flower filigree border.

Sold for 5,040 EUR at Sotheby’s in 2021

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Diamond Star Shaped Brooches

Antique Brooches — Thu, 16 May 2019 07:33:40 +0000

Diamond Star Shaped Brooches. Diamonds lend themselves well to star shaped brooches as the gemstone can sparkle just like the stars in the sky. Below are some examples of diamond star shaped brooches.

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Flies and Bees Brooches Price Guide

Antique Brooches — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 14:25:27 +0000

Price guide to antique and vintage brooches designed as flies or bees. Bees and flies can be very similar so this section has combined the two. Bees and flies were popular brooch designs during the Victorian era.

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