Vintage Silver, Gold & Diamond Brooch, c. 1950

One of the most popular jewelry motifs of the 19th century was the star. Empress Elisabeth of Austria's diamond stars, which she wore as sparkling hair ornaments and brooches at the Viennese court, became particularly famous. But it was not only in Vienna that people loved this motif. Throughout Europe and the New World, people adorned themselves with stars made of diamonds, precious stones and pearls, whose luminous shapes were reminiscent of the night sky. A glance at the jewelry catalogs of the time shows how common star brooches were. Depending on taste and wealth, they came in a wide variety of designs. In English-speaking countries, stars made of silver and yellow gold were often preferred, densely set with small diamonds whose light refracted softly on the metal surfaces. This star is a particularly beautiful, albeit late, example of this preference. Its wavy prongs give it an almost shimmering effect, as if it were actually twinkling in the sky. The brooch was probably created in the middle of the 20th century, as its diamond cuts reveal. The piece of jewellery was made from gold with a silver front. A total of 57 diamonds in different cuts cover the surface of the star. Together, the stones weigh more than one carat. We discovered this unusual piece of jewellery in London.

Estimate:£2,012.48

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