Antique Fly Brooch of Amethyst and Pearls in Gold, c. 1890

In the last third of the 19th century, a new fashion spread in the metropolises of Western Europe: dainty insects made of luxurious materials, richly set with diamonds and coloured stones, were allowed to settle on their wearers in the form of brooches, pins or hair ornaments. Spiders, bees, butterflies, dragonflies and even flies were used as "novelty jewellery" at dinner parties and soirées as a starting point for lively conversation. Here, a fly has settled on a golden bar. The body is formed of two faceted amethysts held by golden prongs. The wings are richly decorated with small seed pearls. The legs and antennae are modelled in gold. A fine gold chain with safety pin allows worry-free wearing. The fly was a popular motif with rich references to art history and thus fulfilled the function of a "conversation piece". It is said, for example, that the famous painter Giotto painted a fly on a painting by his master Cimabue in a painting competition; when Cimabue succumbed to the illusion and tried to shoo the annoying insect away, he realized that Giotto had surpassed him. When a fly settled on the dress, the link to art history was elegantly established. But beyond that, insect brooches were even considered flattering in a certain way: the Victorian lady could use them to emphasize her resemblance to a beautiful, fragrant flower, whose sweetness attracted the insect. We discovered this interesting piece in London. A wonderful Victorian piece that will certainly not miss its function as a conversation piece!

Estimate:$2,125.38

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