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Details
A RETRO DIAMOND AND MULTI-GEM 'BIRD OF PARADISE' BROOCH
Designed as an old European and single-cut diamond body, with a calibré-cut ruby head and cabochon ruby eye, extending calibré-cut sapphire and gold wings, to the gold and star-set diamond scrolling tail feathers, with cabochon sapphire, rectangular-cut garnet and single-cut diamond detail, perched on a gold branch, mounted in gold and platinum, circa 1948, 6¼ ins., with French importation marks
Designed as an old European and single-cut diamond body, with a calibré-cut ruby head and cabochon ruby eye, extending calibré-cut sapphire and gold wings, to the gold and star-set diamond scrolling tail feathers, with cabochon sapphire, rectangular-cut garnet and single-cut diamond detail, perched on a gold branch, mounted in gold and platinum, circa 1948, 6¼ ins., with French importation marks
Literature
Judith Price, Masterpieces of Twentieth Century French Jewelry from American Collections, Running Press, Philadelphia, 2006, page of contents
Sylvie Raulet, Jewelry of the 1940s and 1950s, Rizzoli, New York, 1987, page 86
Sylvie Raulet, Jewelry of the 1940s and 1950s, Rizzoli, New York, 1987, page 86
Exhibited
Precious Gems: Jewellery From Eight Centuries, Nationalmuseum Stockholm, 8 June - 15 October 2000, exhibition catalogue, page 224, no. 307
Further Details
One of the most popular of the forties fantasy jewels was the bird of paradise brooch, made with cocked heads, colorful wings and most importantly, extravagant tails, a veritable display of the jeweler's wit and skill.