Rare Signed Countess Cis Sunburst Clip Brooch

Rare signed Countess Cis fushia and emerald Swarovski crystal sunburst clip brooch mounted in gilt bronze.

Countess Cis born in Vienna, she started her career in jewelry in 1951 by hand-painting cufflinks and buttons. She was quickly taken up by Pierre Balmain and Jacques Fath and moved on to jewelry in the mid 1950s. She worked for Balenciaga for 14 years, creating jewelry for his couture collections. Her jewelry was also sold through Lord & Taylor (Cis of Paris) and Bonwit Teller (Countess Zoltowska). She is known for her signature "crackled" glass cabochons and stones marbled and sprayed with gold. Very few of her pieces are signed, but the signature is "CIS" stamped under a crown.