Antique Vintage Art Deco 14k Rose Gold Tigers Eye MOP Cameo Stick Pin Brooch

Description

We have similar Art Deco
and
Cameo
items, which would pair nicely with this piece, up for auction this week. To view in separate listings, please visit our store and search "Deco"
or
"Cameo"
under our auction items.
Listing description by: Dayna M.
The Piece
Auction Estimate:
,000 - ,000
Age Circa:
Art Deco C. 1920 - 1940
Markings:
Unmarked, tested, and guaranteed
Country of Origin:
Unknown
Brand:
Unknown
Gram Weight:
3.5 grams
Metal Type:
14k rose gold
Item Weight Value:
0.00 (value all-inclusive weight)
Material:
--
Main Stone:
Tiger's Eye
Main Stone Measurements/Color:
Length:
13.22 mm
Width:
9.39 mm
Depth:
0.71 mm
Color:
semi-translucent brown hues
Accent Stone:
Mother of pearl
Accent Stone Measurements/Color:
Length:
15.63 mm
Width:
11.82 mm
Depth:
2.59 mm
Color:
Pearlescent grey and white hues
Stone Treatment:
The stone(s) appear to be untreated, but we are not certified gemologists. Stone(s) have been tested and guaranteed using a professional Presidium Duo refractive, heat, and hardness tester.
Stone Cuts:
Carved and polished cameo
Item Measurements:
Length:
2.69"
Width:
0.52"
Depth:
0.40"
Pin/Brooch Style:
Brooch, hat pin, lapel pin, scarf pin, tie pin
Closure Type:
Pin stem
Convertible to Pendant:
If desired, your local jeweler can add a bale to this piece so it can be worn as a pendant, but this will require removal of the pin stem
Notable Features:
The brooch was handmade during the Art Deco era. Composed of 14k rose gold, the pin brooch features a tiger's eye carved cameo on top of a mother of pearl background. Cameos were very fashionable during this time period, having seen a surge in popularity following the Etruscan Revival movement. Part of the larger Archaeological Revival movement, the Etruscan Revival began following the discovery of ancient Etruscan sites outside of Rome in the early 1800s. Amongst the discoveries made at these sites were beautiful pieces of jewelry, usually made out of high purity gold and featuring intricate filigree designs and carved stones.
Cameos and Etruscan Revival jewelry were especially popular with Grand Tour travelers. The Grand Tour was the traditional vacation taken by aristocrats and the wealthy during the Art Deco era. A Grand Tour was an opportunity for travelers to learn more about the art, cultures, and histories of other countries. To remember their trips, travelers would often purchase jewelry as souvenirs, Etruscan Revival jewelry a fashionable choice for visitors to the Mediterranean.
The cameo in this piece is carved from a tiger's eye and mother of pearl, the pearliest grey and white hues coming from the background while the semi-translucent brown hues on top make the carving even more of an eye-catching piece. As was fashionable in cameo jewelry, the piece depicts what appears to be an important roman soldier and a woman standing next to him.
To keep the cameo conch shell secure, it rests in a rose gold bezel setting. The warm tone of the metal is a lovely contrast to the more vibrant pearliest mother of pearl and the brown hues of the tiger's eye. Completing the brooch is a pin stem allowing it to be worn on a variety of accessories and clothing. A classic example of Etruscan-inspired jewelry from the Art Deco era, this brooch would make a valuable addition to any antique jewelry collection. Don't miss your chance to preserve this piece of cultural history.
Damage:
Age appropriate wear. The pin stem has some surface scratches but that will not be seen when worn.
*This listing is for the item only. All display boxes and/or photography props do not come with your purchase.*
The History
The Art Deco era is famous for being the "Gatsby" or "Roaring Twenties" era. A lot of gorgeous and timeless designs in jewelry came out of this period. Jewelry from this period was most often crafted between 1920 and 1940. Art Deco jewelry sometimes featured white gold or platinum, geometric designs, European cut diamonds, filigree, and calibre cut stones that are specially cut to fit the design of the piece. During the Art Deco period jewelers often made jewelry upon custom order, this would usually take weeks to months to completely craft by hand.
Etruscan revival jewelry swept into popularity in the early 1800s with the Victorian era discovery of Etruscan tombs just outside of Rome in Italy. These archaeological digs unearthed beautiful golden jewelry that had been meticulously ornamented with tiny gold beads, featuring flowing geometric shapes, celestial motifs, and a plethora of sacred and Greco-Roman mythological figures. The techniques of repoussé, filigree, and granulation are all attributed to the Etruscans. Jewelers all over the world avidly began to attempt to replicate these ancient techniques, changing the way fine jewelry was made for many years.
The Grand Tour was a popular vacation during the Georgian and Victorian eras. This vacation was generally between two and four years long, and it allowed wealthy aristocrats the opportunity to study different cultures, architecture, and art. During this vacation, travelers would pick up pieces of jewelry, which allowed the introduction of techniques and styles such as cameos, mosaics, and pietra dura to be introduced into popular jewelry styles.
A cameo is an image that has been carved in raised relief by cutting away the background of different materials to create a contrast in height and color. The earliest examples of cameos date back to the 3rd century BC. In antiquity, this was achieved by carving into a single piece of banded agate to reveal the layers of colors, but now it is much more common that cameos are made of two different materials. The most common form of fine jewelry cameo is created by layering a carved white shell on top of a stone of contrasting color with a flat plane. Cameos usually depict a beautiful or famous person in profile, or a mythological figure. The Romans were true artisans when it came to creating these pieces, so there are many Roman cultural influences found in cameos, even to this day. These are true miniature art works.
Tiger’s eye, a member of the quartz family, is a gorgeous chatoyant stone. This type of stone is famous for its iridescent brown waves that glow yellow as the stone is moved in the light. It was given its name due to the bright appearance of the line of light in the center of the stone. Generating its value from its gorgeous colors, polished Tigers Eye is a highly sought-after stone.
Mother of Pearl is a beautiful type of organic mollusk shell lining that is made up of nacre, the same substance that coats pearls. It is a strong, iridescent material that is well suited to decorative arts, and has been used in art, jewelry and even architecture for thousands of years. Mother of Pearl is highly prized for its distinct, multi-colored pearlescent glow.
Domestic US
: All items ship within one business day of receiving payment. Buyers will have 3 base shipping options to choose from, depending on the needed speed of delivery. Pricing on single and multi-purchase transactions can be seen below:
Auction Items:
Base shipping + .00 per additional gold item & BIN items combine for free
BIN Items:
FREE
Base Shipping:
USPS
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: .00 fully insured, estimated 3-5 business days
USPS
Priority Mail
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USPS
Priority Express
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