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A lady with a love for literature and shiny things discusses books & bling.

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Two lovely Art Nouveau brooches.

These two brooches are similar but I couldn’t choose between them, so you get to see both!

Art Nouveau diamond and enamel flower brooch, circa 1915. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This piece was made in 1915. The brooch, 1.3 inches in diameter, is rendered in silver over yellow gold. Fine enamel flowers of peachy hues are complimented by bright green leaves and finished with rose cut diamonds. This piece would look wonderful with any number of outfits.

Art Nouveau pearl and enamel flower brooch, circa 1910. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This brooch, with its crescent moon shape and floral embellishment, combines several popular Art Nouveau motifs. Made in 1910, the brooch is made of yellow gold which has aged beautifully, developing a rich patina. Lifelike golden leaves, enamel flowers at different life stages and tiny, perfect seed pearls, graduated in size, taper down the ends of the crescent moon. It is elegant, restrained, and lovely.

These brooches are both for sale at Fourtane, listings available via 1stdibs. Thanks to Fourtane and 1stdibs for the images and info.

Edwardian diamond, cultured pearl, sapphire and platinum brooch.

This brooch is a great example of what I love about the Edwardians.

Can’t you just imagine two jewelers looking over this design in a dim room, each of them saying to the other every few minutes “Is this enough pizazz?” “No, add more.” “Is this enough?” “No, needs a bit more.” “How about now?”

An antique Edwardian diamond, cultured pearl, sapphire and platinum brooch.

Now, sarcasm aside, I do think this brooch is great. It’s extremely ornate, but it works. The details are clearly carefully planned to accentuate rather than suffocate each other. The overall impression is one of delicate, complicated lace, rather than excessive scribbling.

The brooch is largely made of filigree, set throughout with European and rose-cut diamonds, accented by cultured and seed pearls, further set with calibré-cut sapphires. It also converts into a pendant and comes with a white gold and diamond-set neckchain for conversion to a necklace.

This amazing brooch was sold as part of Bonhams 18 Dec 2006 Fine Jewelry sale. All images and info are thanks to Bonhams.

Pink diamond flamingo brooch, Carvin French.

Heehee. Hee. So fabulous.

Pink diamond flamingo brooch, Carvin French. Designed as two detachable, pavé-set pink diamond flamingos extending marquise-cut pink diamond wings, with faceted black diamond beaks and cabochon ruby eyes. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This wonderful, whimsical flamingo brooch is by Carvin French. It’s designed as two pavé-set pink diamond flamingos, extending marquise-cut pink diamond wings, with faceted black diamond beaks and cabochon ruby eyes. The mamma and baby flamingos are standing on calibré-cut demaintoid garnet grass, mounted in 18k white gold. Each flamingo detaches and may be worn separately.

If I wore this flamingo brooch to a party, I would show up with the flamingos attached. Then I would detach them while in the powder room and reattach them in different places on my outfit. Then I would repeatedly rearrange them (while out of sight, of course; it has to be a surprise) until it ceased to be amusing.

I repeat: Heeheee. So fabulous.

This flamingo brooch was listed in Christie’s October 21, 2009 Rare Jewels sale. All images and info are thanks to Christie’s.

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