Striking vintage brooch featuring a fully dimensional silver-tone rose with deeply sculpted layered petals, flanked by two textured leaf sprays. The bold 3D form and heavy casting give this an almost sculptural quality — a real statement piece at 2 inches wide. Unmarked, likely mid-century.

Style: Figural floral brooch
Metal: Silver-tone base metal
Size: Approx. 2" x 1"
Markings: Unmarked
Condition: Good vintage — some oxidation in recesses, clasp functional

Radiating arms of prong-set rhinestones extend from a larger central stone in a starburst formation that evokes both a snowflake and a distant star. The pale ice-blue stones catch light with quiet intensity — a characteristic of quality glass rhinestones from this era. Unsigned and effortlessly wearable on a lapel, collar, or knitwear.

Materials: Silver-tone base metal, pale blue glass rhinestones

Details:

• Era: 1950s–1960s
• Markings: None
• Style / design notes: Starburst/snowflake form, radiating arms, prong-set stones throughout, larger central stone
• Stone or material notes: Pale ice-blue glass rhinestones, prong-set
• Color: Silver-tone with pale blue stones
• Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear consistent with age
• Measurement: 1.5" diameter

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Description: A study in contrast and craft — this brooch centers a hand-etched bird amid scrolling botanicals, rendered in gold inlay on oxidized steel in the Toledo tradition. The octagonal panel is framed by an elaborate gold-tone filigree border that catches light from every angle. Damascene work traces its roots to Moorish Spain, and pieces like this one were made at their peak in mid-century Toledo workshops. Wears beautifully on a lapel, coat, or scarf.

Materials: Gold-toned metal filigree frame; oxidized steel center panel with gold inlay (damasquino technique)

Details:

• Era: c. 1950s–1960s
  
• Style / design notes: Octagonal damascene center panel; ornate looped filigree surround; bird in flight with floral and scroll motifs
• Material notes: Gold inlay on blackened steel
• Function: Pin brooch
• Color: Black and gold
• Condition: Good vintage condition, some gold tone loss around edges

Measurement: 1.6" × 1.9"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A quill feather rendered in Spanish damascene — the centuries-old Toledo tradition of inlaying fine gold wire and colored enamel into blackened metal — with yellow, green, and white scrolling detail across every barb. A matching damascene ball serves as the chained safety cap at the pin's end, making the entire piece a cohesive object from tip to terminus. Spanish damascene stick pins of this quality were among the most sought-after tourist and export pieces of the post-war decades.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal, Spanish damascene enamel inlay (yellow, green, white on blackened metal)

Details:

• Era: 1950s–1960s
• Markings: "Spain" stamped on reverse
• Style / design notes: Feather/quill form, full damascene enamel coverage, scrolling gold inlay detail, chained matching damascene ball safety cap
• Stone or material notes: Toledo-style damascene — gold wire and colored enamel inlaid into blackened base metal
• Color: Yellow, green, white, and black with gold inlay
• Condition: Vintage with wear consistent and tone loss is a few places, see images
• Measurement: 3.5" long

Collected by Mineral and Matter

All gold, all texture — the wings of this Trifari butterfly are filled with a dense field of raised gold-tone beads set within an open filigree lattice, each bead catching light differently depending on the angle. The body is sleek and pointed, the antennae curl at the tips with a light hand. Understated and confident. Signed TRIFARI© on the reverse.

Materials & Details:

• Era: 1960s–1970s
• Markings: Signed TRIFARI© on reverse
• Style notes: Open filigree wings filled with raised bead detail, pointed body, curled antennae, simple pin back
• Stone notes: None
• Color: Gold tone
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see images
  

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Cast in the tradition of European dress jewelry, this round brooch is dense with ornament — concentric rings of scrolling filigree, a scalloped border edge, and a raised pinwheel flower at the center, all in oxidized silver tone that lets the depth of the pattern read clearly. The "W. Germany" stamp on the back is a reliable date marker, placing manufacture before German reunification in 1990, and signals the quality standards associated with postwar West German jewelry production. Closes with a clip mechanism rather than a pin — secure and non-damaging to fabric.

Materials Silver-tone base metal, oxidized finish

Details

• Era: c. 1950s–1980s, pre-1990 (confirmed by W. Germany stamp)
• Markings: Stamped "W. Germany" on reverse
• Style / design notes: Circular form; layered openwork filigree with scrolling S-curve motifs; raised pinwheel floral center; scalloped outer border with marcasite-style bead detail; oxidized finish enhances relief depth
• Function: Clip brooch (clip-back mechanism, non-piercing)
• Color: Silver tone, oxidized
• Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear consistent with age

Measurement: Approximately 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) in diameter

Collected by Mineral and Matter