$4,312Sale Price|20% Off
Art Nouveau Gold Brooch with 20mm Tahitian Pearl, Circa 1910
Located in Braintree, GB
An exquisite Art Nouveau brooch dating from around 1910, featuring a captivating 20mm Tahitian pearl set within an openwork gold frame of leaves and grape clusters.
Pearl, Gold
Art Nouveau gold and diamond brooch, circa 1900.
Located in London, GB
Signed Art Nouveau gold brooch set with rose cut diamonds.
Diamond, Gold
Antique Rose Gold Seed Pearl Crescent Moon Brooch
Located in New York, NY
This Art Nouveau gold brooch design features a crescent shape embellished with a series of pearls, culminating in a central floral motif.
Pearl, Rose Gold
Art Nouveau Diamond Enamel 14 Karat Gold Fairy Brooch, Circa 1900
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Brooch is designed as a fairy with a highly rendered female form With spread wings shining with iridescent enamel - ombrè green, blue, and purple No loss - excellent for age Set w...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Art Nouveau Gold and Diamond Maiden Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Art Nouveau Gold and Diamond Maiden Brooch within flowers in 10k gold with diamond accents designed as a watch holder from the beginning of the 20th Century. 1900 USA.
Diamond, Gold
18K Gold French Art Nouveau Gold Diamond Medallist Brooch
Located in Flushing, NY
18K Gold French Art Nouveau Gold Diamond Medallist Brooch Approximate Dimensions: 2.5 cm (Length) 2.7 cm (Width) 9.7 grams in weight.
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Art Nouveau Diamond Phoenix Brooch
Located in London, GB
Here we have a fantastic antique brooch crafted from 22ct yellow gold at a time when the Art Nouveau style was at its pinnacle.
Diamond, Gold, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
14K Yellow Gold Art Nouveau Brooch Tourmaline, Diamond
Located in Berlin, BE
14K Yellow Gold Art Nouveau Brooch with Tourmaline, Diamond, Apatite, and Citrine – Floral Bouquet Design An exquisite Art Nouveau brooch crafted from 14K yellow gold, shaped into a...
Citrine, Diamond, Tourmaline, Apatite, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Nouveau Diamond Gold Flower Brooch and Pendant
Located in Vienna, AT
Golden Art Nouveau Brooch of most elegant appearance, looking like stylized flower's blossoms attached to framework having three-cornered & reticulated form type.
Diamond, 14k Gold
$5,760Sale Price|20% Off
Art Nouveau 18K Gold Enamel Pearl Diamond Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Art Nouveau brooch with diamonds total approx. 0.25ct, cultured pearls, 18K yellow gold, settings silver.
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Enamel
Art Nouveau 18k Diamond Pearl Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
Art Nouveau 18k Yellow Gold Weight 18.3g Rose Cut/Old Cut Diamond Approx. 1.5ct Pearl Brooch Measurements 1.27inx2in Antique box included
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Art Nouveau Pearl 14 Karat Gold Hermes Stickpin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Stickpin designed as stylized winged head of Hermes - messenger of the gods With whiplash style wings and 2.0 mm pearl in mouth Pearl is white in body color with good luster Head...
Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage Art Nouveau Style Blue Sapphire Mixed Gold Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive vintage 1960s 0.22 carat sapphire, 18 karat yellow and white gold Art Nouveau brooch; part of our diverse antique jewelry and estate jewelry collections.
Sapphire, White Gold
Vintage Art Nouveau gold tone brass green glass brooch
Located in Palos Hills, IL
DETAILS • unsigned • gold tone with glass • vintage designer brooch MEASUREMENTS • CONDITION • very good vintage condition with minimal signs of wear Sku A64 ❤️❤️ VI...
Vintage Art Nouveau Floral Diamond Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Art Nouveau Floral Diamond Brooch. Weighing 24.8 grams, this exquisite piece features 5.55ct-tw GAL-certified D-E color, VVS1-VVS2 clarity round-cut diamonds.
Diamond, 14k Gold
1900s Art Nouveau Enamel Diamond Gold Brooch Vienna Austria
Located in Vienna, AT
Art Nouveau Brooch Vienna, made c. 1900 14 Carat Gold / 585 (checked) Yellow Gold, covered with enamel as well as with many small diamonds (vintage cuts / circa 0.40 carat i...
Diamond, 14k Gold
18k solid gold Art Nouveau brooch - Late Victorian jewelry - Floral bar brooch
Located in Antwerp, BE
This wonderful Victorian bar brooch comes directly from the floral Art Nouveau period.
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Nouveau Purple Pansy Enamel Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Art nouveau purple pansy enamel brooch At the center is one round-cut diamond, the petals are made of purple enamel set on yellow gold Size: width 2.6 cm, length 2.9 cm Total weigh...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1920s Art Nouveau Diamond Yellow Gold Platinum Set Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning antique Art Nouveau 0.84 carat diamond and 14 karat yellow gold, platinum set brooch; part of our diverse antique jewelry and estate jewelry collections.
Diamond, Platinum, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Nouveau Yellow Gold Seed Pearl Flower Brooch Pin
Located in beverly hills, CA
This exquisite Art Nouveau flower brooch pin is a true testament to the romantic and natural style of the era.
Pearl, Yellow Gold
Art Nouveau Opal Gold Brooch Australian Precious Opal Unisex Arnould 1910 Brooch
By Edouard Aimé Arnould
Located in Berlin, DE
An exceptional piece - Art nouveau Opal Brooch from original catalogue of french jeweller Edouard Aimé Arnould, circa 1910 brooch measurements - 0.39 x 0.39 x 2.95 in / 10 x 10 ...
Crystal, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
Original High Art Nouveau Yellow and Green Gold Brooch
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1910 18k Yellow and Green Gold Art Nouveau Brooch, in a very stylized period theme of A beautiful flowing haired woman, surrounded by different themes of nature and further set...
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
Art Nouveau Antique Seagull Diamond Enamel Gold Brooch France
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Extremely rare Art Nouveau brooch of a seagull. The finely modelled bird is decorated with guilloché-enamel in pale blue, green and pink iridescent colours.
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel, Platinum
Art Nouveau Wiese Spirit 18 Karat Yellow Gold Antique Brooch
Located in Poitiers, FR
Our opinion: An antique brooch of very good quality totally in the art nouveau style.
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Wiese Spirit French Art Nouveau Yellow Gold Diamond Brooch
Located in Poitiers, FR
Authentic antique jewel - French work of the 1900s, brooch Art Nouveau. Our opinion: Dull gold work is characteristic of this artistic style which lasted only about 20 years.
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Nouveau Peacock Natural Pearl Yellow Gold Diamond Brooch, 1930
Located in Herzelia, Tel Aviv
Art Nouveau Peacock Natural Pearl Yellow Gold Diamond Brooch, Boxed, 1930 A late Art Nouveau–style brooch inspired by natural forms.
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Yellow Gold
Art Nouveau Antique Russian Diamond Guilloche Enamel Gold Brooch
By Feodor Lorie
Located in Chicago, IL
The brooch is handcrafted in 14K gold and silver. It features a finely modeled Art Nouveau diamond flower mounted on a superb quality royal blue guilloche enamel plaque framed by ros...
Diamond
Art Nouveau Diamond 10 Karat Gold Green Man Stickpin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as a stylized Green Man face with a pierced pear shaped mouth Featuring two claw set old European cut diamonds, eye-clean and white Matte gold with an aged finish Tested ...
White Diamond, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Nouveau Diamond 10 Karat Gold Stylized Owl Stickpin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Hollow form depicting the face of an owl, with an old European cut diamond in its mouth and single cut diamond eyes Total diamond weight approximately 0.08 carat, eye-clean and whit...
White Diamond, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
1900s Art Nouveau Diamonds 0.50 Carat Gold Flower Brooch
Located in Vienna, AT
Finest golden brooch with various diamonds - vintage cuts (0.50 ct). This piece of jewellery is of most elegant appearance, looking like stylized flower's blossoms with leaves (ret...
Diamond, 14k Gold
Art Nouveau Diamond 14 Karat Gold Green Man Stickpin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Stylized green man face with wide diamond set eyes Two old European cut diamonds, weighing approximately 0.05 carat total, eye-clean and white With an open mouth and bold expressio...
White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890 Art Nouveau 14k Yellow Gold Pearl & Enamel Flower Brooch
By Non Branded
Located in Lexington, KY
This gorgeous flower pin comes from the 1890 Art Nouveau period and features enameled 14k yellow gold with pearls. This pin perfectly exemplifies the era's celebration of organic bea...
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
French Art Nouveau 18 Karat Yellow Gold Child's Portrait Brooch
Located in Poitiers, FR
Brooch in 18 karat yellow gold, eagle head hallmark.
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Opal brooch gold Australian Natural Crystal Opal Art Nouveau Paris
By Edouard Aimé Arnould
Located in Berlin, DE
An exceptional piece - Art nouveau Opal Brooch from original catalogue of french jeweller Edouard Aimé Arnould, circa 1910 opal origin - Australia brooch measurements - 0.39 x 0.39 x...
Crystal, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
American Art Nouveau Plique a Jour Brooch
Located in Riverdale, NY
Wonderful American Art Nouveau 14k Plique a Jour Brooch of enameled poppies on a pale green plique a jour ground. Flowers modeled in high relief with pink and green translucent ename...
14k Gold
Art Nouveau French Enamel & Pearl Flower Brooch
Located in Montgomery, AL
Era: Art Nouveau 1890 - 1910 Metal: 14K Rose Gold; 10K Gold Pin Size: 1.25” X 0.75” Weight: 5.0 Grams Minor Enamel loss on some petals due to age but mostly intact.
Gold, 10k Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Enamel
Antique Art Nouveau Gold Cameo Portrait Seed Pearl Filigree Pin Brooch
Located in Montclair, NJ
--Stone(s):-- (1) Natural Genuine Hardstone - Round Shape - Bezel Set - Angle Skin Pink Color - 14mm (approx.) (2) Genuine Cultured Seed Pearls - Round Shape - Nice White Color - 2.3...
Gold, 10k Gold, Rose Gold
Art Nouveau Enamel Flower Brooch of 14K Gold, Circa 1900
Located in Lewisburg, PA
It is in excellent antique condition, a testament to the craftsmanship and care behind its creation and preservation. This enamel iris brooch is a beautiful example of early 20th-ce...
Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel
Taylor & Co. Inc. Art Nouveau Citrine 10 Karat Gold Stickpin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Centering a bezel set elongated oval cabochon citrine, measuring approximately 8.0 x 4.2 mm Bright and very slightly brownish-orange Matte gold with a tapered and slight scrolling ...
Citrine, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Nouveau Key Brooch in 18 Karat Gold and Enamel Mistletoe
Located in PARIS, FR
Art Nouveau key brooch in 18 karat gold and enamel.
Gold, Enamel
Art Nouveau Jeweled Yellow Gold Stickpin Brooch by Whiteside & Blank
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Art Nouveau 14K gold stickpin brooch of intertwined scrolls surrounding a brilliant orange citrine.
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Nouveau Black Tahitian Pear Abstract Brooch Pin 14 Karat Gold
Located in Miami, FL
Art Nouveau Black Tahitian 5mm Pear Abstract Brooch Pin 14k Gold.
14k Gold
Vintage 3.05Ct Opal and 14k Yellow Gold Bar Brooch Art Nouveau
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive vintage Art Nouveau 3.05 carat opal and 14 karat yellow gold bar brooch; part of our diverse vintage opal brooches collection.
Opal, Yellow Gold
Art Nouveau Diamond 14 Karat Yellow Gold Animal Lion Stickpin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Stickpin is designed as a stylized lion head with swirling grooved fur Featuring a prong set old mine cut diamond clutched in its teeth Weighing approximately 0.06 carat - eye clea...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Nouveau Diamond Enamel 14 Karat Yellow Gold Pan Stickpin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Stickpin designed as profile of the god Pan with curling hair and grooved horns With orangey red and deep green enamel - quality consistent with age Accented by prong set diamond i...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
French 1900s Art Nouveau Enamel 18 Karat Yellow Gold Roses Brooch
Located in Poitiers, FR
Of rectangular shape, the center of this Art Nouveau brooch is with openwork flowers decoration.
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Art Nouveau Diamond Enamel 18 Karat Gold Devilish Satyr Stickpin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Stickpin designed as a highly stylized head of a satyr With textured hair, agape mouth, and enamel glossed horns Enamel is translucent red and gray - exhibiting some loss Accen...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold
Antique Art-Nouveau c1900's 15K Gold & Oval Garnet 34mm Brooch.
Located in MELBOURNE, AU
Crafted with refined elegance this stunning Brooch is dating from early 1900's - Art-Nouveau period Of lovely openwork filigree design, it centers an oval Natural Garnet 34mm lon...
Garnet, 15k Gold
Art Nouveau Kohn 14k Yellow Gold Nymph with Amethyst & Pearl Brooch
By Kohn
Located in New York, NY
A striking and highly artistic example of Art Nouveau craftsmanship, this antique brooch by Kohn captures the movement’s signature blend of natural beauty and flowing design.
Amethyst, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Nouveau 2.65 Ct Diamond 18KT Gold Platinum Brooch Pendant
Located in Napoli, IT
This impressive Art Nouveau Diamond brooch pendant is 1890 ca Sensual, sinuous lines expertly carved from rich 18 KT gold, contrasted by Platinum portions, make this brooch pendant q...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
Art Nouveau Russian 14K Gold and Sterling Silver Wyvern Brooch
Located in Houston, TX
An Art Nouveau 14K yellow gold and sterling silver mythological creature (wyvern) brooch with multi-colored enamel, red spinel and diamonds.
Diamond, Spinel, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver
Art Nouveau diamond pearl dove floral bouquet 18k yellow gold brooch
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
This enchanting Art Nouveau brooch from the early 1900s beautifully captures the era’s fascination with nature, movement, and romantic symbolism.
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Brokaw & Son Art Nouveau Pearl Diamond 14 Karat Gold Stickpin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as the head of an eagle holding a pearl in its mouth measuring approximately 3.4 mm, white body color with excellent luster and surface quality Accented with an old Europea...
White Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Art Nouveau Circa 1895 14k Yellow Gold Diamond Peridot Enamel Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive 0.04 carat diamond, 0.03 carat peridot and enamel, 14 karat and 9 karat yellow gold Art Nouveau pin brooch; part of our diverse antique jewellery ...
Diamond, Peridot, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Art Nouveau Yellow Gold Blue Moonstone & Seed Pearls Pin Brooch
Located in Montclair, NJ
--Stone(s):-- (1) Natural Genuine Moonstone - Oval Cabochon Cut - Milgrain Bezel Set - Blue Color - 9.7x4.9mm each (approx.) (4) Cultured Seed Pearls - Round Shape - White Color - 2....
Moonstone, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold
Enamel Art Nouveau Maiden Woman Brooch 14 Karat Gold, circa 1900
Located in New York, NY
A spectacular Art Nouveau brooch with images of three maidens in 14 Karat Gold with fine Enamel decoration.
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Art Nouveau Enamel Flower Maiden Brooch Gold Sterling Silver Museum Quality
Located in New York, NY
A very rare museum quality Art Nouveau flower maiden brooch in hand painted enamel over Sterling Silver with Gold highlights.
Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Art Nouveau — generally considered to have begun in the late 1800s and ended with the start of World War I — was a movement in the decorative arts that drew inspiration from natural forms, such as trees, flowers and, of course, the human figure. The three main themes present in Art Nouveau jewelry and watches were flora, fauna and women.
Art Nouveau, which reached its pinnacle in the year 1900, spawned from artists who rejected the historicism of their predecessors to create an entirely new visual vocabulary. As compared to Art Deco jewelry’s geometric patterns and sharp lines, the extravagant style of antique Art Nouveau jewelry is characterized by curvilinear forms and whiplash lines, vibrant materials and dramatic imagery.
The first art and design movement of the 20th century, Art Nouveau was also a reaction against the Industrial Revolution, and took its inspiration from the theories of the Symbolists, the art of the Pre-Raphaelites, the ideas of John Ruskin and his follower William Morris and, most importantly Japanese crafts. (The country was a fertile ground for inspiration after it was opened to the West in 1854.) The Art Nouveau style touched all manners of the arts, including the most exultant jewelry.
Nature was a favorite muse for artists going back to the 18th and 19th centuries, but in the hands of 20th-century artists, it was depicted in new ways. For example, a withering flower was considered just as beautiful as one in full bloom. Winged creatures, such as insects and birds, were also a popular subject. Dragonflies and butterflies were particular favorites because they morphed so dramatically in different life stages.
This was also a reference to women, whose role in society was evolving. It was not uncommon to see a piece of jewelry that would at once reference a woman as a winged creature (think René Lalique’s famous Dragonfly brooch, circa 1897–98, at the Gulbenkian Collection in Lisbon). However, just as women’s roles were ambiguous, so was their image, as the femmes nouvelle were simultaneously eroticized and romanticized.
In addition to Lalique, vital figures in Art Nouveau jewelry included Louis Comfort Tiffany in the United States, Vladimir Soloviev, who designed jewelry for Peter Carl Fabergé in Russia, Fuset Grau of Spain, Karl Rothmuller of Germany and Philippe Wolfers of Belgium.
Art Nouveau jewelers used every “canvas” imaginable, looking beyond brooches and necklaces to belt buckles, fans, tiaras, dog collars (a type of choker necklace), pocket watches, corsages and hair combs. Multicolored gems and enamel could complete this vision better than diamonds. Jewelers also favored pearls, particularly baroque pearls, for their large size and irregular shape. However, opal was the most popular stone — its iridescence harmonized perfectly with the enamel, and it could be carved into any shape. Art Nouveau jewelry was primarily set in yellow gold.
Find a range of antique Art Nouveau jewelry today on 1stDibs.
Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself.
Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.
Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany & Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.
For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany & Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.
Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.
In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so.
Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.
Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle.
BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.
A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in.
Since Van Cleef & Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.
Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.
Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.
Vintage brooches, which refer to decorative jewelry traditionally pinned to garments and used to fasten pieces of clothing together where needed, have seen increasing popularity in recent years.
While jewelry trends come and go, brooches are indeed back on the radar thanks to fashion houses like Gucci, Versace, Dior and Saint Laurent, all of which feature fun pinnable designs in their current collections. Whether a dazzlingly naturalistic Art Nouveau dragonfly, a whimsical David Webb animal, a gem-studded bloom or a streamlined abstract design, these jewels add color and sparkle to your look and a spring to your step.
Given their long history, brooches have expectedly taken on a variety of different shapes and forms over time, with jewelers turning to assorted methods of ornamentation for these accessories, including enameling and the integration of pearls and gemstones. Cameo brooches that originated during the Victorian age are characterized by a shell carved in raised relief that feature portraits of a woman’s profile, while 19th-century micromosaic brooches, comprising innumerable individually placed glass fragments, sometimes feature miniature depictions of a pastoral scene in daily Roman life.
At one time, brooches were symbols of wealth, made primarily from the finest metals and showcasing exquisite precious gemstones. Today, these jewels are inclusive and universal, and you don’t have to travel very far to find an admirer of brooches. They can be richly geometric in form, such as the ornate diamond pins dating from the Art Deco era, or designer-specific, such as the celebrated naturalistic works created by Tiffany & Co., the milk glass and gold confections crafted by Trifari or handmade vintage Chanel brooches of silk or laminated sheer fabric. Chanel, of course, has never abandoned this style, producing gorgeously baroque CC examples since the 1980s.
Brooches are versatile and adaptable. These decorative accessories can be worn in your hair, on hats, scarves and on the lower point of V-neck clothing. Pin a dazzling brooch to the lapel of your blazer-and-tee combo or add a cluster of smaller pins to your overcoat. And while brooches have their place in “mourning jewelry,” in that a mourning brooch is representative of your connection to a lost loved one, they’re widely seen as romantic and symbolic of love, so much so that a hardcore brooch enthusiast might advocate for brooches to be worn over the heart.
Today, find a wide variety of antique and vintage brooches for sale on 1stDibs, including gold brooches, sapphire brooches and more.