Love Nest

A yellow gold and platinum necklace composed of a horizontal openwork oval pendant with a central urn decorated in stripes of green plique-a-jour enamel and bordered with single rows...

Diamond floral spray brooch. Set with one drop shape old mine diamond in an open back cutdown setting with a weight of 1.80 carats, and fif...

Ruby and diamond brooch. Set to centre with thirty four square baguette cut natural unenhanced rubies in open back channel settings with a combined approximate weight of 3.40 carats,...

Antique shell cameo brooch and earrings by John Brogden, English, circa 1870. A yellow gold suite of jewellery, the brooch composed of a horizontally situated oval Bull’s Mouth shell cameo of the Greek goddess Selene riding a serpentine dragon in a rubover collet setting, encircled by a conforming frame of gold beading and twisted gold wire punctuated with four gold palmette form plaques engraved and decorated with dark blue enamel and placed at the cardinal points, the reverse mounted with a hinged pin and scroll clasp, the earrings each composed of a vertical oval Bull’s Mouth shell cameo engraved with a bust length portrait of Selene with crescent-set headdress, encircled by a conforming frame matching that of the brooch with the addition of a pendant decoration composed of a horizontal bar of gold beading and twisted gold wires suspending gold link chains graduated from centre and ending in conical gold elements, the reverses mounted with French wire fittings, all in a fitted red leather case, the interior marked ‘FIRST CLASS PARIS MEDAL/ 1855.1867.1851/ PARIS FIRST CLASS & LONDON PRIZE MEDALS/ JOHN BROGDON/ Goldsmith/ MANUFACTORY/ 16, Henrietta St. Covent Garden/ London’. The cameo—defined as a gem, usually either a mineral or a shell, upon which a design has been carved in relief—is believed to have originated in Hellenistic Greece, during the third century BC. These miniature sculptures, at that time confined to the medium of hardstone, are thought to have been made with the primary purpose of personal adornment. The same practice of mounting cameos in jewellery was then continued by the Ancient Romans, and they are known to have been worn by many a Roman emperor. After the fall of Rome the fashion for cameos went into a decline, until it was again revived during the Renaissance period, brought about by a keen interest in the ancient world. At this time both antique and contemporary cameos were mounted in jewellery, as well as collected as objet d’art. The art of cameo cutting was revived in Italy, where it would remain a centre for the coming centuries. Again there was a lull in interest in carved gemstones, until the Neoclassical revival of the eighteenth century, largely stimulated by the discoveries of the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. As with the Renaissance, antique specimens were generally prized over modern cameos, and the worldliest men in Europe held them among their collections of art and antiques. That said, carving centres in Rome and Torre del Greco (near Naples) in Italy were established in response to the demand of the Grand Tourists, who travelled to Italy and Greece to become educated in the wonders of the ancient world. It was at this time that shell cameos, mostly made in Torre del Greco due to its proximity to the sea, became more popular, owing to the relative ease in carving shell over hardstone. In addition to Rome, hardstone cameos also became a specialty of Idar Oberstein, Germany, which had a long history with both the gem mining and cutting trade. In a shift away from the collector’s cases of the previous century, the nineteenth century saw a strengthening in the fashion for wearable cameos. After the Empress Josephine donned a cameo-set suite of jewellery at the coronation of Napoleon in 1804, cameo jewellery became all the rage. Napoleon played a further hand in promoting the art by establishing a gemstone carving school in Paris, inspired by his appreciation for the arts of the ancient world. By the mid-nineteenth century shell cameos, in part due to their lightness compared with hardstone cameos, were the height of fashion. Large shell cameos as well as hardstone cameos were set into contemporary mounts, often as suites of jewellery. Some of the best cameos of the nineteenth century—carved by a select group of recognized carvers—were set into revivalist mounts, corresponding to the subject matter. In Victorian England cameo jewellery was particularly prized, due in part to the fact that the Queen owned and wore a number of cameo jewels. One example which can often be seen in official portraits is the Badge of the Order of Victoria and Albert, carved by Tommaso Saulini of Rome, who also produced cameos for the maker of the present suite, John Brogden. To meet demand some carvers set themselves up in London, including William Schmidt, a German carver from Idar Oberstein, who produced cameos for top London jewellers, including Brogden, Carlo Giuliano and Child & Child. In fact, Schmidt purports to have been the first to carve cameos out of opal, which Brogden reportedly displayed in the Paris Exhibition of 1878. An extant example, now in the collection of the British Museum, was set by the Giuliano firm. Regarding subject matter, cameos throughout time have been largely figural, from bust length profile portraits to scenes with multiple full-length figures, and sometimes animals. Ancient Greek and Roman cameos often depicted mythological scenes as well as contemporary figures. During the Renaissance, mythological scenes were popular, often taken directly from ancient sculpture, as well as portraits of notable contemporary figures. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, due to the revivalist styles, both Renaissance and Classical subjects were copied and set into matching (and sometimes unmatching) revivalist mounts. From the Renaissance through the Victorian era, being able to recognize the source of the carving in a cameo was a mark of erudition, revealing in the wearer knowledge of Classical art. As mentioned, the present cameo parure...

Maison Plisson et Hartz chimera brooch. A circular yellow gold brooch, composed of an intricately carved crouching chimera with teeth bared and wings unfurled, encircled by a swirl o...

Victorian diamond pendant/brooch. Centrally set with a cushion shape old mine diamond in an open back cut-down setting with an approximate we...

Georgian diamond brooch. Set with one hundred and ten rose and table cut diamonds of varying shapes and sizes, in closed back cut down settings ...

Georgian pearl hair brooch with locket back opening. Traditional mourning jewellery with locket of hair, circa 1770.

Art deco diamond brooch. Set to centre with one round old cut diamond in an open back rubover setting with an approximate weight of 0.85 carats, surrounded by 45 round old cut diamon...

Georgian ruby and emerald mandolin brooch/pendant locket. A yellow, rose and green gold brooch/pendant in the form of a mandolin, a symbol of harmony i...

Pearl and enamel brooch by Carlo and Arthur Giuliano. Set with ten round natural pearls in closed back rubover settings, to an elegant openwork floral spray shape cluster with very fine enamel detailing and secure pin brooch fitting to reverse. Tested yellow gold, signed 'C & AG', England, circa 1900. Made by the world-famous Castellani and Giuliano...

Cartier emerald and diamond fox brooch. Set with two oval cabochon natural emeralds in open back rubover settings with a combined approximate weight of 0.35...

Victorian hardstone cameo brooch. Set with an oval cameo in hardstone depicting the profile of a woman in the classical style, featuring a decorative engraved border and fitted to re...

Victorian amethyst and citrine brooch. Set to centre with one round old cut citrine in an open back claw setting with an approximate weight of 60 carats, encircled by four round old ...

Coral cabochons, circular-cut amethysts, and diamonds signed Van Cleef & Arpels. Brooch approx. 7.0 cm and ear clips approx. 3.4 cm circa 1970s French marks

Simply Beautiful! Vintage Carved Two Portrait Amethyst and Seed Pearl Antique Gold Brooch Pin Simply Beautiful! Hand Carved Amethyst Double Portrait Cameos and Seed Pearl Brooch. Ha...

A turtle brooch in 18 carat yellow gold set with twelve brilliant cut diamonds on the shell. Two more little diamonds in the eyes (app. 0.76 carat), French. weight: 14.97 grams dim...

A charming gold squirrel brooch by Hermès c.1960s, the three-dimensional brooch finely modelled in 18ct yellow gold as a squirrel sat on a branch holding...

Exceptional Art Deco Jeweled Flower Set from the 1930's. Incredible scale and design in a multitude of colors set in sterling silver. Matching screw back ea...

Are you the Foxiest of them all? Crafted from celluloid, this beautiful crawling fox brooch was designed by French artist Lea Stein and dates back to the late 1970's. On top of a ras...

Are you the Foxiest of them all? Beautiful Fox pin/brooch Designed by French artist Lea Stein, this vintage, one-of-a-kind crawling fox dates to the late 1970's. The perfect fashion ...

Celebrate mid-century vintage elegance with the 18K Solid Gold Diamond Blue Bird Brooch – a truly one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Crafted from solid yellow gold, this brooch features a mama bird accompanied by two smaller blue birds, each adorned with different color eyes. The eyes are crafted from precious gemstones, with one pair being green emeralds, the second blue sapphires, and the third red rubies. Adding a vibrant pop of color, vintage Persian turquoise stones...

Are you the Foxiest of them all? Beautiful Fox pin/brooch Designed by French artist Lea Stein, this vintage, one-of-a-kind crawling fox dates to the late 1970's.The perfect fashion a...

Elevate your whole look with this amazing Louis Vuitton brooch/pendant! Circa 21st Century, this steel quatrefoil brooch/pendant features a mirrored mosaic front with a gold plated LV stamped emblem in the center. The back includes a brooch closure as well as a loop and black ribbon for a necklace. Stamped Louis Vuitton made in Italy. Beautiful and unique, this piece will look great pinned to your favorite LV blazer...

Beautiful 18K gold plated scorpion brooch circa 1980s featuring a gorgeous pink rhinestone at the center! This is such a fun way to add a pop of bling ...

Brooches Are The New Hot Accessory This Season And We've Got You Covered! Circa 1970's, this Lea Stein butterfly brooch features an elegant marble effect in soft pinks. Simple cut ou...

Magnificent Cartier Art Deco Platinum and Diamond Brooch featuring a matching pair of important Old Mine Cut Diamonds weighing 5.60 carats and 5.64 carats. Both accompanied by a GIA report stating that they are H color VS1 and H color VS2 clarity. This brooch comes with an Expertise letter from IAJA (international Antique Jewelers...

Give your outfit a little flare with these Erickson Beamon brooches! Circa late 1990s, these costume brooches feature multi-colored rhinestones in the shape of a burst or flower. The...

Step back into the glamorous world of the 1980s with our exquisite 18K Gold Plated Synthetic Emerald Brooch. This vintage-inspired masterpiece features a captivating arrangement of v...

Brooches Are The New Hot Accessory This Season And We've Got You Covered! Circa 1970's, this Lea Stein bow tie brooch features a gorgeous glitter flake ...

Nettie Rosenstein Art Deco articulated pendant clip brooch of rhodium plated sterling silver set with crystal rhinestone pave. The brooch top with a large oval faux jade cabochon whi...

Showcasing a very special certified Unheated Burmese Ruby center stone weighing just over 10.00 carats. The ruby is of excellent color, clarity and saturation. Please inquire for mo...

From the Emilio Jewelry Museum Vault, We are Showcasing a stunning 102.00 carat Grs Certified natural unheated sapphire in the center. This sapph...

From the vault at Emilio Jewelry Located on New York's iconic 5th Avenue, Main Stone: Sapphire over 1.70 carat Blue (Cornflower Blue), Pink 2.00 + carat, Tsavorite 1.11 carat, Tsavor...

From The Museum Vault at Emilio Jewelry Located on New York's iconic Fifth Avenue, Showcasing a very special and rare butterfly brooch hand made by Emilio Artisans, specializing in bringing out the maximum potential of each and every natural fancy color diamond. We specialize in creating special mountings for color diamonds that will increase the color and bring it out the maximum potential of the center. center: over 5ct Gia certified shield additional natural green pink orange diamonds...

For sale is a platinum and 18K yellow gold AGL and Gubelin Certified 13.85ct Pear shaped sapphire, accented with Old European Cut diamonds, weighing approximately 4.50 carats total....

CHRISTIAN LACROIX vintage gold toned brooch featuring enameled flowers and a butterfly embellished with multicolored crystals. Marked CHRISTIAN LACROIX CL Made in France. Indicativ...

KARL LAGERFELD vintage gold toned fan brooch featuring a massive wax seal pendant embossed KARL LAGERFELD PARIS and his profile at the front and engra...

CHRISTIAN DIOR vintage gold toned brooch featuring a large oval wreath of flowers embellished with faux pearls and clear crystal. Marked CHR. DIOR. Germany. Indicative measurements...

CHRISTIAN LACROIX vintage massive gold tone "splash" cross brooch. Could be used as a brooch or pendant. Marked CHRISTIAN LACROIX CL Made in France. Indicative measurements : heig...

YVES SAINT LAURENT vintage large textured heart brooch/pendant. Embossed YSL Made in France. Numbered A2. Indicative measurements : max. height approx. 6 cm (2.36 inches) / max. wi...

CHRISTIAN DIOR vintage ladybug brooch embellished with red enamel, red resin domed almond shape cabochon and clear crystals. Embossed PARFUMS CHRISTI...

CHRISTIAN LACROIX vintage rare opulent Arlesian inspired gold toned resin brooch featuring stylized bull horns, sacred heart, CL monogram, Provence cross embellished with an emeral g...

BALENCIAGA vintage gold toned stylized seahorse brooch embellished with multicolored crystals. Embossed BALENCIAGA Paris Made in France. Indicative measurements : height approx. 7....

CHRISTIAN DIOR Boutique vintage iconic gold tone bee brooch. Marked CHRISTIAN DIOR BOUTIQUE. Indicative measurements : max. height approx. 4.6 cm (1.81 inches) / max. width approx....

CHRISTIAN LACROIX vintage massive gold tone brooch featuring a radiant sun embellished with multi colored crystals, faux pearl and resin cabochons. Marked CHRISTIAN LACROIX CL Made ...

CHRISTIAN LACROIX vintage massive antiqued gold tone brooch featuring a heart shaped branch design and a large glass faux pearl drop. Embossed CHRISTIAN LACROIX CL Made in France. ...

YVES SAINT LAURENT vintage gold toned "nest" brooch embellished with multicolored crystals and a large irregular-shaped green resin cabochon at the center. Embossed YSL Made in Fran...

GUY LAROCHE vintage gold tone brooch embellished with clear crystals. Embossed GUY LAROCHE Paris. Indicative measurements : max. height approx. 5.8 cm (2.28 inches) / max width app...

YVES SAINT LAURENT vintage earring and brooch set featuring a faux amethyst stone in an abstract textured gold tone setting. All...

JEAN LOUIS SCHERRER vintage massive gold toned oriental saber brooch embellished with black and clear crystals. Marked SCHERRER Paris. Indicative measur...

MOSCHINO vintage massive gold toned comedy mask brooch featuring a long chain tassel. Embossed MOSCHINO. Has weight on it. Indicative measurements : hei...

CHRISTIAN DIOR Boutique vintage silver tone ribbon bow brooch embellished with clear crystals and a dangling faux pearl drop. Marked CHRISTIAN DIOR Boutique. Indicative measurement...

CHRISTIAN DIOR vintage gold tone fan brooch embellished with citrine crystals. Embossed DIOR ©. Indicative measurements : max. width approx. 6.7 cm (2.64 ...

CHRISTIAN DIOR vintage gold tone modernist brooch embellished with an amber color resin cabochon. Embossed 19 CHR. DIOR © 71 Germany. Indicative measurements : max. height approx. ...

CHRISTIAN DIOR vintage gold tone brooch featuring C DIOR monogram logo embellished with clear crystals. Embossed CHR. DIOR © Germany. Indica...

CHANTAL THOMASS vintage antiqued gold tone brooch featuring four fleur-de-lis embellished with black enamel and a black tassel. Embossed CHANTAL THOMASS. Indicative measurements : ...

CHRISTIAN LACROIX vintage gold tone resin heart brooch featuring a lace design. Marked CHRISTIAN LACROIX CL Made in France. Indicative measurements : max...