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BROOCH

Creator(s): Unknown

On view in: Jewelry Case


About this object

"The hummingbird is naturalistically modeled in mid-flight with wings extended. The head, body, inner wing feathers, and sections of the tail are pavé set with cushion-shaped rubies in open gold-backed silver settings. The belly, areas of the tail, and outer wing feathers are similarly mounted with old brilliant-cut diamonds. A pear-shaped ruby is set at the tip of the central tail feather. The hummingbird's eye is mounted with a cabochon emerald, and its feet and beak are made of gold. The bird is presently mounted as a brooch with a prong attachment at its back made by Wartski. The old brooch fitting was saved. A prong setting would have attached to round fittings on the back of the bird and permitted a comb to be mounted to convert it into an aigrette, or hair ornament."

Object name:
BROOCH
Made from:
Rubies --diamonds --emerald --gold --silver
Made in:
FRANCE: Paris
Date made:
ca. 1890
Size:
H 2 7/16 in, W 3 1/4 in

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:
2015.3
Signature marks:
MARK 283 on gold plaque at bottom of bird’s belly MARK 283_ on old pin (now a separate element) MARK illegible maker's mark on old pin (now a separate element) MARK effaced oval mark, possibly for gold guarantee on old pin (now a separate element)
Credit line:
Museum purchase in honor of Ellen Charles's 80th Birthday, 2015.