Brooches

  • Elephant in a Hat

    This brooch is cast in metal which has been mixed with copper to give a rich reddy brown hue.  For a small piece (the elephant is only 2” long (5cm) maximum) of unnamed costume jewellery there is a good deal of detail in the casting. You can see the folds of skin, tassels on the…

  • Glitz and Glamour

    This magnificent large brooch is by Staret and is over three inches wide (7.5 cm). There is little known about the Staret Jewellery Co. Inc. who were based in Chicago Illinois.  This particular name was registered between 1941 and 1947 but previously the company was known as the Star Novelty Jewelry Company, Inc. which began…

  • Boater

    This boater brooch is from the 1980s; though it’s not marked so I cannot attribute it to a known maker it is a well-made and weighty piece, which is often a good sign quality.  The main part of the brooch has been detailed giving the effect of the straw of the boater and the ribbon…

  • Masks

    There is little known about the Reinad Company but it is believed to have started in New York in the 1920s and have been in operation until the 1950s.  These two brooches date from the 1940s and I love the small bit of red enamelling detail that has been given to the lips of the…

  • Three Cubes

    This brooch is by modern British designer Jo McAllister who first made jewellery at an evening class in 1988, having previously worked in picture editing for newspapers and magazines.  Her evening classes led to a degree and in 2003 she graduated from the London Metropolitan University with a Masters. Her work is inspired by landscapes…

  • Magnificent Fur Clip

    This magnificent fur clip by Eisenberg is made of silver gilt, which means it is made of sterling silver with a wash of gold over the top.  The brooch dates from the 1940s and is a substantial piece, it weighs over 60 grams (2oz plus) and being a fur clip has the two sharp prongs…

  • Lemur

    This Lemur brooch is by the designer Tom McDowell.  Tom uses children’s drawings as a springboard starting point for his work.  The lemur was chosen by an 11 year old girl who was inspired by the film “Madagascar”.  The brooch is made from anodised aluminium and synthetic flock which he applies whilst running an electric…

  • Cleopatra Cameo

    Cameos became popular during the 19th century, the most common are made of shell like this one.  The craftsman carves away the design so that it stands out in relief from the background. This achieves a contrast between the design (image) in one colour and the background in another.  This cameo depicts Cleopatra, she is…

  • Scottie Dogs

    These Scottie Dogs are a pair of dress clips, they were popular during the 1930s.  A way of jazzing up an outfit cheaply during the tough times of the Depression when buying a whole new outfit was not always an option.  What is unusual about these dress clips is that they are made of glass. …

  • Snowflake

    This is an Eisenberg Brooch dating from the 1980s.  Eisenberg began in 1914 selling ready to wear ladies fashions.  Jewellery was soon added and in 1935 the name Eisenberg Ice was introduced.  Nowadays much of the Eisenberg jewellery business revolves around the manufacture of Christmas jewellery, there are many collectors of Christmas ‘pins’ as they…