London - Brooches

Here we have a truly remarkable brooch dating back to the Victorian era. At the centre of this 15ct yellow gold piece, a flaming torch has been crafted with a snake wrapping itself a...

This whimsical vintage brooch features a playful poodle with a ball. Crafted from 18 carat yellow gold the piece is beautifully crafted, with 0.02 carat rubies used for the dogs eyes. Along it’s platinum collar, a series of three 0.01 carat eight cut diamonds are set, adding beautiful detailing to this already stunning piece. Blue and white enameling adorn the dog’s ball...

A lovely example of Japonisme in gold & enamel on porcelain probably from Limoges. Additional Information: Material: Gold, porcelain Origin: French, c. 1880 Marks: Monogram verso Ca...

Detailed out of the ordinary antique yellow gold pin, with an edgy dagger sweet motif of a sharp yellow gold dagger sleek and smooth. The handles are crafted with such consideration,...

This gorgeous vintage brooch is beautifully pavé set with a mix of round brilliant cut diamonds and old cut diamonds, all mounted in platinum. The meeting point of the twisted ribbon...

E Wolfe & Company handmade 18 carat yellow gold racehorse brooch. This brooch has been handmade with great attention to detail in our London Workshop....

A Moira Collection ruby, diamond and enamel calla lily brooch, with a yellow diamond set spadix, ruby set petal and a plique à jour enamel leaf with ...

A diamond set duck brooch, with round brilliant-cut diamonds, with pinky-brown tint to represent feathers, pavé set in platinum, with an 18ct yellow gold wing and oxidised metal deta...

Dating back to the 1880s, this unique Victorian brooch holds an impressive 6.00 carat amethyst as it’s centrepiece. The arrow shaped brooch has been hand crafted from 18 carat yello...

This lovely brooch features diamonds and pearl arranged in a delicate design. The natural pearl has great lustre. Two 0.50 carat old cut diamonds sit on the ends of the brooch, and a...

A beautifully detailed vintage diamond violin brooch set in 18k yellow gold. The brooch depicts a violin with a number of well-craft thin strings. On the top plate of the violin, th...

A modern Mississippi pearl, diamond and enamel floral brooch, with three rose-cut diamond set anthers, Mississippi pearl petals, shaded green enamel leaf and sepal with a round brill...

Here we have a gorgeous multi diamond brooch. This retro piece has been crafted from platinum into a bowed design with a single round brilliant cut diamond at the centre. This multi ...

A finely worked sculptural brooch of a 'Fox & Stag' in gold & diamond Additonal Information: Material: Gold and Diamond German, c. 1895 Marks: '‘750' & makers monogram 'TB' in a shie...

This original 1950's yellow gold vintage ribbon brooch is beautifully decorated with a rose gold contrasting leaf motif, centrally lined through ...

This intricately crafted brooch is crafted in the likeness of an owl. The beautiful 18 carat yellow gold feather work is punctuated by a pair of cabochon cut tigers eye stone as the ...

Here we have an exquisite brooch showcasing a sinuous snake design crafted from 18ct yellow gold. The body of the snake is adorned with alternating square-cut red rubies and old mine...

This stunning Art Deco brooch features a vibrant design centring around a 1.10 carat, antique cushion cut sapphire, flanked by a pair of smaller 0.50 carat sapphires. Adding to the b...

Here we have a playful brooch dating back the Edwardian period. Crafted from a warm 18ct yellow gold, this brooch takes on the form of a golf club. The shaft is adorned with square c...

A Victorian, gold, Etruscan style suite, consisting of a pair of drop earrings and a matching brooch, with pendant fitting, circa 1875. The earrings measure 49 x 23mm. The pendant m...

A Georgian Regard locket brooch in 18 karat yellow gold, circa 1820. An original 18ct gold acrostis Regard brooch. The first letter of each claw set sto...

Here we have remarkable piece of jewellery taken from the Victorian era. Crafted with precision, it features a centralised star motif adorned with old mine cut diamonds, each radiati...

An Art Deco plaque brooch, with a rhombus-shaped outline and a geometric and foliate openwork design, set with old brilliant-cut diamonds, weighing an estimated total of 4.50 carats,...

A unique and collectible Bulgari Diamond and 18k Yellow Gold Brooch of foliate design, set with approximately 3.5 carats of diamonds. Made in Italy, circa 1970.

This delicate little brooch dates back to the 1880s and is a fabulous piece of Victorian jewellery. The handcrafted fly is a collection of gemstones including a total of 0.55 carat'...

An antique, T. B. Starr, Belle Époque diamond, pearl, platinum and gold brooch, featuring a natural pearl, in the centre of an Art Nouveau double whiplash, above three graduating loo...

This Victorian brooch displays a captivating circular design, featuring a single original antique synthetic ruby at its centre. The claw set synthetic ruby weighs 3.50 carat and is c...

This is a Victorian 9ct yellow gold and silver brooch. The brooch has been set with three central oval cabochon opals in a clover motif with old and rose cut diamonds. Condition: U...

Five rubies are surrounded by rose cut diamonds in this Victorian brooch. The rubies are old cut, and are a slightly purplish red. Each ruby is 0.25 carat. Two diamond studded swirls...

Here we have stylish brooch showcasing a striking design, featuring a central orange citrine flanked by two agate stones. The frame has been crafted entirely from 18ct yellow gold, c...

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...

This delightful Art Deco brooch is designed in a delicate flower like shape. Crafted entirely in platinum the design features an arrangement of four pear shaped cabochon cut turquois...

This is an 18ct gold and platinum bar brooch from the Edwardian era. The brooch is set with nineteen natural seed pearls and surrounded by a cluster of rose cut diamonds and crafted ...

This is a pearl and old cut diamond stick pin. The pin consists of one claw set diamond with a natural pearl able to move freely below. Cond...

A vintage diamond set bow brooch in 14 karat yellow, white and rose gold, circa 1960 This statement brooch is designed as a stylized bow, in plain polished and satin finish yellow a...

A Victorian 9 karat yellow gold ruby owl brooch This charming bar brooch has a seated owl to its centre which is beautifully detailed in yellow and ...

An antique lucky clover brooch, with a gold circle, edged with rope wirework, with white enamelled clover leaves, with a clover leaf in the centre, with a central natural pearl and t...

An antique Swiss enamel brooch, with an oval hand painted scene depicting mountains in the distance with a church surrounded by trees, with a feature tree, people and animals to the ...

This beautiful brooch boasts a total of 10.00 carats of Burma rubies on the head of the Thistle. The grain set stones are a stunning red colour and work perfectly with the 18 carat y...

Here we have wonderful emerald and diamond ring from master antique jeweller, Gaetano Chiavetta. This piece has been created using components of an authentic Victorian brooch includi...

Here we have a charming antique brooch dating back to the early Edwardian period. This 18ct yellow gold piece has been crafted into the shape of a blossoming flower with fine distinc...

A scarlet mormon butterfly brooch, with round brilliant-cut diamond set eyes and antennae, with a yellow and brown diamond pavé set body and silver, black and red enamel wings, mount...

This beautiful little brooch features a peach coloured coral stone on the top. It measures 6.3mm and sits within a halo of old cut diamonds. The diamonds total 0.50 carat in weight a...

This charming brooch from the 1880s has been crafted in the likeness of a swooping bird atop a pin brooch. A total of 0.25 carat of old cut diamonds adorn both the birds body and the...

Art deco amethyst and reconstituted turquoise brooch by Cartier. Set to centre with an oval old cut natural amethyst in an open back structured claw setting with an approximate weigh...

A beautiful vintage Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co. bow brooch set in 18k yellow gold. The brooch is composed of an elegant bow motif, made ...

Here we have a fun and quirky brooch taken from the Victorian period. This antique piece is crafted from 18ct gold and silver into the shape of a frog. The design is adorned with a a...

Here we have an antique ruby set snake ring from the Victorian era. The snake takes on a coiled stance with a defined ribbed body whilst the bowing head at the centre has been set wi...

This is a Victorian 15ct gold pearl and diamond double heart brooch. The brooch features a rose cut diamond double heart motif crafted in silver within a blue and white enamel centre...

This glittering diamond brooch takes the form of interlocking scrolls. Forty six old cut diamonds are set in silver, and are H to I in colour and VS to SI in clarity. The back of the...

A demantoid garnet 15 karat yellow gold frog stick pin, circa 1950. This charming stick pin depicts a realistically modelled frog which is beautifully hand detailed to show the frog...

Clown brooch by bespoke British designer Albion Craft Company set in ruby and sapphire in bimetal 18 carat yellow and white gold. British hallmarked London 1968, sponsor mark "AC.CO".

A charming vintage brooch featuring a pair of love birds perched in harmony, crafted in warm 9ct yellow gold and adorned with natural gemstones: ruby, emerald, beryl, and jade. This...

This stunning brooch dates back to the roaring 20s. The bold geometric shapes crafted from platinum is a hallmark of the Art Deco period and gives this piece its character. Central t...

Maple leaf design antique 14/15 carat yellow gold pin in the shape of a five corner leaf, detailed down to the ridges, edge, and stem. The leaf itself is 3 dimensional with the edges...

Hardstone cameo brooch. Set with a carved hardstone cameo to centre of a bust of a lady in profile within a yellow gold ornate horizontal form, with gold wirework, floral beading and...

Wonderful antique Victorian sterling silver hand engraved brooch in an ornate design. The brooch features a lovely scroll pattern gilded in rose gold. It is not stamped, but tests as silver. Measuring length 4.6cm / 1.8 inches by width 3.2cm / 1.26 inches. The brooch has scratching as expected. The pin has a slight curve to the end. We have given the brooch a light clean. This is a beautiful and decorative antique silver brooch...

An Odeon Style Art Deco diamond and platinum double clip brooch, in a geometric design, with two tapered columns, pavé set with eight-cut diamonds, hemmed with baguette-cut diamonds,...