Four small mother of pearl brooches, each one a different expression of the same luminous material. The set includes a carved MOP bar with an engraved botanical motif, a plain iridescent MOP bar in warm cream, a square MOP brooch with a clean unadorned face, and a slim silver-tone oval bar pin. Mother of pearl has been used in jewelry since antiquity, prized for the soft iridescence that shifts between cream, blush, and pale green depending on the light. They offer versatile styling options across necklines, scarves, and lapels.

Materials: Natural mother of pearl; silver-tone base metal 

Details:

• Era: c. 1920s–1960s, Early to Mid-Century
• Markings: None observed on any piece
• Style / design notes: (1) Carved MOP bar with engraved botanical/dragonfly motif, 1" × 0.2"; (2) Plain iridescent MOP bar, 1.9" × 0.3"; (3) Square MOP brooch, 0.6" × 0.6"; (4) Silver-tone slim oval bar pin, 1.1" × 0.1"
• Stone or material notes: Natural mother of pearl throughout; iridescent cream-white with blush and green flash
• Function: Brooches / bar pins
• Color: Cream, iridescent white, silver tone
• Condition: Vintage with wear and discoloration on the back/ metal sections of the brooches

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A small mermaid curls into her own tail in sculptural gold-tone relief, textured to suggest scale and flowing hair in the Art Nouveau tradition that made mermaids a favored motif in stickpins a century ago. The figure sits atop a slim pin with a rounded safety clutch, ready for a lapel, cravat, or scarf. Unmarked, but detailed in the hand-finished style of early figural stickpins. A curious, storied little accent.

Materials: Gold-tone metal

Details:

• Era: Early-to-mid 1900s style, reproduction or vintage
• Markings: Unmarked
• Style / design notes: Figural mermaid motif, Art Nouveau influence, safety clutch closure
• Stone or material notes: None
• Function: Stick pin
• Color: Antiqued gold
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see images

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A small gold-tone angel with outstretched wings wears a gown rendered in American flag enamel — stars at the bodice, red and white stripes cascading to the hem. The design merges the celestial and the civic in a way that feels distinctly American, and distinctly of its era. Stamped "USA" on the reverse, confirming domestic production.

Materials

• Era: 1990s
• Markings: "USA" stamped on reverse
• Style / design notes: Angel silhouette with spread wings; butterfly clutch pin back
• Stone or material notes: Red, white, and navy enamel
• Color: Gold-tone, red, white, and navy
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A small waving flag rendered in red, cream, and navy enamel with a gold-tone border — the kind of pin that has lived on jacket lapels, canvas bags, and coat collars for decades. The enamel shows the warm, slightly muted tones characteristic of older production, giving it a patina that feels earned rather than faded. Simple, direct, and quietly collectible.

Materials

• Era: 1970s–1980s
• Style / design notes: Waving flag silhouette with enamel fill and gold-tone border; pin back closure
• Stone or material notes: Red, cream, and navy enamel
• Color: Red, cream, navy, and gold-tone
• Condition: Good vintage condition

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Textured gold tone leaves form a graceful open wreath, each pair cradling a single round faux pearl so the pearls appear to bloom naturally throughout the circular design. The leaves feature fine veining that catches the light with a soft satin finish, while the creamy faux pearls provide gentle contrast against the warm gold tone metal. The open center keeps the brooch feeling light and balanced, making it equally suited for a lapel, sweater, scarf, hat, or handbag.

The laurel wreath has long been a symbol of victory, celebration, and enduring elegance, making this a timeless vintage accessory that transitions easily between everyday wear and more formal occasions. The back is finished with a secure rollover safety clasp that functions smoothly and holds the brooch firmly in place. Unsigned and in great vintage condition.

Materials
Gold tone base metal; faux pearl

Details

• Era: Late 1960s–1980s 
• Maker: Unsigned
• Style / design notes: Open circular laurel wreath design with textured leaves and evenly spaced faux pearls; rollover safety clasp
• Stone or material notes: Faux pearl, round, cream/white tone, approximately 6–7 mm, multiple
• Color: Warm gold tone with cream faux pearls
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see images
• Measurement: 1.5 in diameter

Collected by
Mineral and Matter

Textured gold tone ridges form a graceful curved feather or leaf design, featuring an elegant taper that creates a sense of fluid movement. A single round faux pearl sits nestled near the stem in a starburst-style setting, appearing to bloom naturally against the warm metal. The feather features fine, deeply grooved veining that catches the light with a soft satin finish, while the creamy faux pearl provides a gentle contrast. Its elongated silhouette keeps the brooch feeling light and balanced, making it equally suited for a lapel, sweater, scarf, hat, or handbag.

The feather has long been a symbol of flight, freedom, and enduring elegance, making this a timeless vintage accessory that transitions easily between everyday wear and more formal occasions. The back is finished with a secure rollover safety clasp that functions smoothly and holds the brooch firmly in place. Unsigned and in great vintage condition.

Materials

Gold tone base metal; faux pearl

Details

• Era: Late 1960s–1980s 

• Maker: Unsigned

• Style / design notes: Elongated feather or leaf design with textured ridges and a single accent faux pearl in a starburst setting; rollover safety clasp

• Stone or material notes: Faux pearl, round, cream/white tone, single accent

• Color: Warm gold tone with a cream faux pearl

• Condition: Great vintage condition; light surface wear consistent with age; pearl is secure; clasp functions properly

• Measurement: 2.25 in long, 1.5 in wide

Collected by

Mineral and Matter

A soft blush oval cabochon rests at the center of a dense field of seed pearls, all held within a scalloped gold frame with shell-fan accents at each lobe — the entire composition a quiet homage to Victorian jewelry traditions. The layering of textures here is considered: smooth stone against granular pearl fill against ornate molded gold. This style of revival brooch was produced with real care during the 1980s, when antique-inspired pieces were having a cultural moment. It pins to anything from a winter coat to a silk blouse and immediately elevates it.

Materials
Gold tone base metal, faux seed pearls, glass cabochon

Details

• Era: 1980s
• Style / design notes: Scalloped oval frame with shell-fan lobe accents; dense seed pearl fill field; milgrain inner bezel; oval cabochon center; standard pin back
• Stone or material notes: Blush pink glass cabochon; cream faux seed pearl fill
• Color: Gold tone / blush pink / cream
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see photos 
• Measurement: 2 in length, 1.5 in width

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A large cream faux pearl sits at the center of a milgrain-dotted bezel, encircled by an oval wreath of interlocking laurel-leaf chain links — a composition that draws from classical antiquity with an ease that feels entirely modern. The laurel wreath has signified honor and achievement since ancient Greece and Rome, and its use in jewelry has never fully left. The chunky open chain frame gives this brooch unexpected weight and presence for its size. It pins to a lapel, a knit, or a scarf with equal authority.

Materials
Gold tone base metal, faux pearl

Details

• Era: 1970s–1980s
• Style / design notes: Oval laurel-leaf chain frame; milgrain dot bezel; large domed faux pearl center; standard pin back
• Stone or material notes: Large cream faux pearl cabochon
• Color: Warm gold tone / cream
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see photos 
• Measurement: 2 in length, 1 in width 

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A generous cascade of open ribbon loops fans upward from a trio of cream faux pearls at the center, two trailing tails curling beneath — effortlessly formal and just as easily worn every day. The bow brooch has a long lineage in fine and costume jewelry alike, from Victorian mourning pieces to mid-century glamour, and this Avon version carries that tradition with a light hand. The combination of brushed and polished gold surfaces gives the piece subtle dimension. Pin it at the collar, on a coat lapel, or at the shoulder of a dress.

Materials
Gold tone base metal, faux pearls

Details

• Era: 1980s
• Markings: Signed Avon (stamped reverse)
• Style / design notes: Multi-loop open ribbon bow; three cream faux pearl cluster center; brushed and polished gold tone surfaces; trailing ribbon tails; standard pin back
• Stone or material notes: Cream faux pearls
• Color: Warm gold tone / cream
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see photos 
• Measurement: 2 in length, 1.5 in width 

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Five asymmetric arms radiate outward with ribbed, naturalistic detail — the center dimpled with fine granular texture that mimics the actual surface of a sea star pulled from tidal water. The slightly irregular form keeps it from feeling too polished, too perfect, which is exactly what makes it work. Unsigned coastal jewelry of this kind was produced in abundance during the 1970s and 80s, when nature motifs were a quiet constant in American accessory design. Pin it to a lapel, a hat brim, or a canvas bag and let it do the rest.

Materials
Gold tone base metal

Details

• Era: 1970s–1980s
• Style / design notes: Five-arm starfish form; ribbed arm detail; granular textured center; standard pin back
• Color: Warm gold tone
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see photos
• Measurement: 2.25 in width and length

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A full-sail schooner rendered in white and navy enamel, red pennant flying, gold star on the mainsail, with a dangling anchor charm swinging from the hull — every detail accounted for, nothing excessive. Nautical motifs surged in American costume jewelry through the 1980s, carried by the decade's love of preppy dressing and coastal aesthetics, and Avon produced some of the most charming versions. The rope-twist mast and open hull give this brooch a sense of movement even standing still. Pin it to a blazer lapel, a canvas tote, or a linen shirt — it belongs anywhere near the water.

Materials
Gold tone base metal, enamel

Details

• Era: 1980s
• Markings: Signed Avon (stamped reverse of hull)
• Style / design notes: Dimensional sailboat form; white and navy enamel sails; red enamel pennant flag; gold star accent; rope-twist mast detail; open hull; suspended anchor charm; standard pin back
• Color: Gold tone / white / navy / red
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see images
• Measurement: 2.75 in length, about 1.5 in width 

Collected by Mineral and Matter 

A pear-cut emerald green crystal forms the body, a round green stone the head, and two marquise-cut clear rhinestones spread outward as wings — together composing a tiny, luminous angel. The gold halo ring at the top completes the figure with a lightness that keeps it from tipping into kitsch. A butterfly clutch backing makes it easy to pin to a lapel, collar, or coat. The kind of piece that finds the right person and stays with them.

Materials
Gold-tone base metal, emerald green glass or crystal, clear rhinestone accents

Details

• Era: 1980s–1990s
• Style / design notes: Figural angel composed of prong-set crystals — round head, marquise wings, pear body — gold halo ring, butterfly clutch backing
• Stone or material notes: Pear-cut and round emerald green glass or crystal; marquise clear rhinestone wings
• Color: Gold-tone, emerald green, clear
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition

Measurement: Approx. .75" tall

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A carved carnelian-tone cameo — a woman's profile in white relief — sits within a delicate branch-and-twig frame accented by four seed pearls. The form reaches back through centuries of mourning and portrait jewelry, here rendered in warm gold-tone with Avon's characteristic care. The bullet clasp keeps it secure at a lapel, scarf, or collar. A piece that carries the weight of a much older tradition.

Materials
Gold-tone base metal, carnelian-tone resin or glass cameo, faux seed pearl accents

Details

• Era: 1970s–1980s, Victorian revival style
• Markings: Stamped Avon
• Style / design notes: Oval cameo in open branch-work frame, four seed pearl accents at cardinal points, bullet clasp closure
• Stone or material notes: Carved carnelian-tone cameo with white female profile relief; faux seed pearls
• Color: Gold-tone, carnelian, white, cream
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition

Measurement: Approx. 2.5" total length

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A bounding dog and a smaller puppy face each other across a slender gold-tone bar, connected by a draped link chain — the whole scene frozen mid-play. The fur texture is rendered with surprising detail for a piece of this scale, giving each figure real personality. Figural animal brooches were a beloved Avon signature, and this one carries that warmth without sentimentality. A collector's piece that wears as naturally as it charms.

Materials
Gold-tone base metal

Details

• Era: 1970s–1980s
• Markings: Stamped Avon
• Style / design notes: Two textured dog figures on bar pin with draped link chain connecting figures, bullet clasp closure
• Color: Gold-tone
• Condition: Great vintage condition

Measurement: 2.5" wide

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Three ridged gold-tone bands loop into an open circle, gathered at the top by a crossover knot set with three clear rhinestones. The fanned ends give the piece a sense of movement — like something caught mid-flight. Stamped Avon on the reverse with a classic bar pin closure. A versatile brooch that anchors a lapel, scarf, or neckline without overwhelming it.

Materials
Gold-tone base metal, clear rhinestone accents

Details

• Era: 1970s–1980s
• Markings: Stamped Avon
• Style / design notes: Triple-band open circle with crossover knot top, fanned ends, three-rhinestone accent, bar pin closure
• Stone or material notes: Three clear rhinestones at knot center
• Color: Gold-tone, clear
• Condition: Great vintage condition

Measurement: 1.25" diameter

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A rabbit face rendered in textured rope-pattern gold tone, one eye winking — or perhaps missing — and a red rhinestone set at the nose, whiskers fanning out in fine parallel lines below. Sarah Coventry's novelty pieces have a particular fondness for the wry and the warm, and this bunny delivers both. The oversized openwork ears give it a lanky, cartoon-adjacent charm that sits perfectly on a lapel or collar.

Materials: Gold tone metal, red rhinestones

Details:

• Era: 1960s–1970s
• Markings: Signed Sarah Cov on reverse
• Style notes: Rabbit face form, textured rope-pattern body, openwork ears, standard pin back; one rhinestone eye, one oval plain eye (winking detail), red rhinestone nose
• Stone notes: Red rhinestones at eye and nose
• Color: Gold and red
• Condition: Great vintage condition
• Measurement: Approx. 2" tall × 1" wide

Collected by Mineral and Matter.

Interlaced bands of twisted gold tone rope form a circular knot, clear rhinestones bezel-set where the strands cross and curve — the whole composition suggesting movement without going anywhere. It has the confident, uncomplicated geometry of 1960s costume jewelry at its most wearable. Domed and dimensional, it reads well on a lapel or collar.

Materials: Gold tone metal, clear rhinestones

Details:

• Era: 1960s–1970s
  
• Style notes: Round openwork design, interlaced rope-twist bands, bezel-set clear rhinestones throughout, standard pin back
• Stone notes: Clear faceted rhinestones, bezel set
• Color: Gold and clear
• Condition: Great vintage condition
• Measurement: 1½" diameter

Collected by Mineral and Matter.

A lacy gold tone filigree frame surrounds an oval cabochon printed with an 18th-century genre scene — a gentleman, a woman, and children gathered in warm ochres and soft grays, the figures rendered with the loose ease of a period illustration. The openwork border loops in a pattern reminiscent of fine lacework, generous in scale and carefully detailed. A piece that carries a whole world in miniature.

Materials: Gold tone metal, printed oval cabochon

Details:

• Era: 1960s–1970s
  
• Style notes: Oval filigree openwork frame, figural scene cabochon, standard pin back
• Stone notes: Printed genre scene cabochon — 18th-century courting/family scene in warm earth tones
• Color: Gold, earth tones
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition
• Measurement: Approx. 1½" tall × 1¼" wide

Collected by Mineral and Matter.

Three letters in looping cursive gold tone — compact, cheerful, and quietly confident on a collar or lapel. The script has the rounded warmth of mid-1960s lettering, cast in polished gold tone with a butterfly clutch back. A small piece that carries its word without effort.

Details:

• Era: 1960s
• Markings: Ballou Reg'd 130 Years (manufacturer's mark on clutch back)
• Style notes: Openwork script lettering, butterfly clutch pin back
  
• Color: Gold
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition
• Measurement: Approx. ¾" wide

Collected by Mineral and Matter.

Six sculpted leaves radiate from a central point in warm gold tone, each surface etched with fine crosshatch texture that catches light like hammered metal. The composition has the organic confidence of 1960s naturalist design — simple, unhurried, satisfying in the hand. A quiet piece that wears well on a lapel or coat.

Materials: Gold tone metal

Details:

• Era: 1960s–1970s
• Markings:none
• Style notes: Six-petal leaf cluster, dimensional construction, etched surface texture throughout
• Stone notes: None
• Color: Gold
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see images
  

Collected by Mineral and Matter.

An open-wing butterfly built from curved gold-tone bars, the upper wings bordered with a line of clear rhinestones, the body clustered with red stones in a cross formation. Simple in construction, precise in placement — the contrast between the clear and red stones does all the decorative work. Unsigned, neat, and wearable.

Materials & Details:

• Era: 1970s–1980s
• Markings: None
• Style notes: Open-wing silhouette, curved bar wing construction, clear rhinestone upper wing border, red rhinestone body cluster, pointed body, simple pin back
• Stone notes: Clear rhinestones along upper wing edges, red rhinestones at body
• Color: Gold tone with red and clear stones
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see images
  

Collected by Mineral and Matter

The letter F in bark-textured twig form — two horizontal branches extending from a vertical stem, each end blunt-cut, with a small sprig of leaves at the junction. The same naturalistic hand as the rest of the series: unhurried, botanical, all texture and no ornament. Signed ©Sarah Cov on the reverse.

Materials & Details:

• Era: 1960s–1970s
• Markings: Signed ©Sarah Cov on reverse
• Style notes: Letter F in bark-textured twig form, leaf sprig detail, roller safety clasp
• Stone notes: None
• Color: Gold tone
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see images
  

Collected by Mineral and Matter

The letter B rendered in naturalistic twig form — bark-textured throughout, with knobby nodes along the branches and a small sprig of leaves emerging from the stem. The organic treatment softens what could be a rigid monogram into something that feels grown rather than made. Signed ©Sarah Cov on the reverse.

Materials & Details:

• Era: 1960s–1970s
• Markings: Signed ©Sarah Cov on reverse
• Style notes: Letter B in bark-textured twig form, leaf sprig detail, roller safety clasp
• Stone notes: None
• Color: Gold tone
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see images
  

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A small frog rendered with surprising anatomical care — the body crosshatched and domed, webbed feet splayed, front legs raised as if mid-leap. Two green rhinestone eyes give it just enough personality. The kind of piece that disappears into a collar or lapel and then gets noticed anyway. Signed AVON© on the reverse. Tack-style lapel pin with butterfly clutch back.

Materials & Details:

• Era: 1980s
• Markings: Signed AVON© on reverse
• Style notes: Naturalistic frog form, crosshatch-textured body, webbed feet, tack pin with butterfly clutch back
• Stone notes: Two prong-set green rhinestone eyes
• Color: Gold tone with green stones
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see photos 
  

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Four open heart-shaped petals form a clover, each lobe outlined in a slim gold-tone wire loop and anchored by a prong-set clear rhinestone. A fifth stone sits at the center where the petals meet, the whole composition balanced by a small curling stem. Petite and sparkling — the kind of pin that works on a lapel or collar with equal ease. Signed Sarah Coventry on the reverse.

Materials & Details:

• Era: 1960s–1970s
• Markings: Signed Sarah Coventry on reverse
• Style notes: Open wire four-leaf clover form with heart-shaped lobes, curled stem, roller safety clasp
• Stone notes: Five prong-set clear rhinestones, one per lobe plus center
• Color: Gold tone with clear stones
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see photos 
  

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A large maple leaf rendered with fine crosshatch texture across the entire surface — the veining raised, the serrated edges crisply defined, the stem curving gently at the base. All gold, no stone, no ornament. Just the leaf itself, done well. Unsigned, but substantial in scale and quality of detail.

Materials & Details:

• Era: 1960s–1970s
• Markings: None
• Style notes: Large figural maple leaf, crosshatch textured surface, raised veining, serrated edges, curved stem, simple pin back
• Stone notes: None
• Color: Gold tone
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see photos 
  

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A mesh-wound rose sits within an open double-wire circle, its petals built up with fine gold-tone mesh that gives the bloom a soft, dimensional quality. A single filigree leaf extends from the stem, its lace-like openwork contrasting with the smooth wire of the frame. A small ball accent punctuates the composition. Signed Sarah Coventry on the reverse.

Materials & Details:

• Era: 1960s–1970s
• Markings: Signed Sarah Coventry on reverse
• Style notes: Double-wire open circle frame, mesh-wound rose, filigree leaf, ball accent, simple pin back
• Stone notes: None
• Color: Gold tone
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see photos 
  

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Wings painted in deep crimson and burgundy, the veining rendered with precision — small yellow and white accents at the lower wing tips complete a pattern that closely mirrors the monarch. The silver tone metal frame follows every curve and scallop, the body segmented and rounded, the antennae looping at the tips. A naturalistic piece, unsigned but well-made.

Materials & Details:

• Era: 1960s–1970s
• Markings: None
• Style notes: Painted enamel wings with naturalistic monarch-style markings, scalloped wing edges, looped antennae, teardrop leg details, simple pin back
• Stone notes: None
• Color: Deep red, burgundy, yellow, silver tone
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see photos 

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Wings painted in a naturalistic palette — red bleeding into yellow, edged in olive green with teal eyespots and ivory roundels that mirror the markings of a real specimen. The silver tone metal frames each wing cleanly, the body segmented and rounded, the antennae looping into open circles at the tips. Unsigned, but the detail and coloration are unusually lifelike for costume jewelry of its era.

Materials & Details:

• Era: 1960s–1970s
• Markings: None
• Style notes: Painted enamel wings with naturalistic wing markings, scalloped wing edges, looped antennae, teardrop leg details, simple pin back
• Stone notes: None
• Color: Red, yellow, olive green, teal, ivory, silver tone
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see images
  

Collected by Mineral and Matter

One of Boucher's most celebrated subjects — the butterfly — rendered here in a warm earth palette of amber, russet, and golden ochre, each cell of enamel separated by fine gold-tone lines that catch the light like stained glass. Large in scale and confident in presence, with a segmented body, long splayed antennae, and exceptional surface detail throughout. A double pin back ensures secure wear. Signed ©Boucher with style number on the reverse.

Materials & Details:

• Era: 1960s–1970s
• Markings: Signed ©Boucher with style number on reverse
• Style notes: Large-scale four-wing butterfly, cell enamel fill with gold-tone dividers, segmented body, splayed antennae, double pin back
• Stone notes: None
• Color: Amber, russet, golden ochre, gold tone
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see images
  

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Wings of translucent amber-toned lucite, layered beneath a delicate gold-tone filigree overlay of scrolls and curls — the light passes through them like sun through autumn leaves. The body is segmented and detailed, the antennae curl at the tips. A long gold-tone stick pin extends from the base, the original closure intact. Signed AVON on the body plate.

Materials & Details:

• Era: 1970s–1980s
• Markings: Signed AVON on body plate
• Style notes: Translucent amber lucite wings with gold-tone scroll filigree overlay, segmented body, curled antennae, stick pin back with original closure
• Stone notes: None
• Color: Amber, yellow, gold tone
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see photos 

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A small butterfly with wings painted in a wash of chartreuse and forest green — the colors blend and bleed into each other like light through leaves. Silver tone metal frames the wings and forms the body and antennae, the lower wings edged with a scalloped border. Unsigned and petite, the kind of piece that sits quietly on a collar or lapel and still gets noticed.

Materials & Details:

• Era: 1970s–1980s
• Markings: None
• Style notes: Painted enamel wings, scalloped lower wing edges, silver tone body and antennae, simple pin back
• Stone notes: None
• Color: Yellow-green, forest green enamel with silver tone metal
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see images
  

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Small in scale, rich in texture — the wings are covered in fine linear engraving that catches light like the grain of a feather, each quadrant punctuated by a single prong-set emerald green rhinestone. Six stones total, evenly placed, doing just enough. The body is coiled and detailed, the antennae crossed at a slight angle. A quiet, well-made piece.

Materials & Details:

• Era: 1960s–1970s
• Markings: None
• Style notes: Textured engraved wings, crossed antennae, coiled body detail, roller safety clasp
• Stone notes: Six prong-set emerald green rhinestones
• Color: Gold tone with emerald green stones
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see photos
  

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Wings spread wide in a palette that reads like deep water at dusk — teal panels divided by gold-tone lines, bleeding into cobalt at the lower wings, edged in black at the tips. The body is warm amber brown, the antennae loop with a light curve. Unsigned, but well-made — the enamel is richly colored and the construction is clean. A brooch that rewards a closer look.

Materials & Details:

• Era: 1970s–1980s
• Markings: None
• Style notes: Multi-panel enamel wings with gold-tone dividing lines, amber enamel body, looped antennae, simple pin back
• Stone notes: None
• Color: Teal, cobalt blue, black, amber, gold tone
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see images
  

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

A butterfly rendered in open silhouette, its wings outlined in a continuous border of pavé-set clear rhinestones that trace every curve and scallop. The interior stays clean — just the warm gold tone of the metal, ribbed and open. A single rhinestone marks the body at center. Signed ©Monet on the reverse.

Materials & Details:

• Era: 1970s–1980s
• Markings: Signed ©Monet on reverse
• Style notes: Open-wing silhouette, rhinestone-outlined border, ribbed wing detail, roller safety clasp
• Stone notes: Pavé-set clear rhinestones along wing border, single rhinestone at body center
• Color: Gold tone
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see images
  

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Open wirework wings fanned wide, each ray of gold-tone wire catching the light like a drawn breath held mid-flight. The body clusters with clear rhinestones on radiating stems — a starburst rather than an ornament. Part of Monet's long-running Menagerie series, introduced in 1962 and produced through the 1980s, this butterfly is one of the most collectible iterations. Signed MONET© on the locking C-clasp.

Materials & Details:

• Era: 1960s–1980s
• Markings: Signed MONET© on locking C-clasp
• Style notes: Open wirework wings with scalloped edges, radiating rhinestone spray body, ball-tipped antennae, teardrop leg details
• Stone notes: Clear rhinestones, prong-set on radiating stems
• Color: Gold tone
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see photos 
  

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A circular transfer portrait of an Edwardian-style woman in a plumed hat sits at the center of an elaborate oval gold-tone frame, ringed by cream and burgundy enamel bands, rope-work borders, and marquise rhinestone accents on each side. The layered construction — portrait medallion, enamel, and ornate metalwork — gives it the feel of a miniature keepsake from a more formal era. Marked RC on the front frame, maker unidentified.

Materials & Details:

• Era: 1970's
• Markings: RC monogram on front frame
• Style notes: Oval gold-tone brooch, central Edwardian portrait medallion, cream and burgundy enamel panels, rope-work borders, marquise rhinestone accents, C-catch pin back
• Stone notes: Marquise clear rhinestones
• Color: Gold tone with cream, burgundy enamel
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition
• Measurement: Approximately 2.5" wide

Collected by Mineral and Matter

The Greek letter Phi set against a white enamel ground, its crossbar set with a row of seed pearls — connected by a fine chain to an "Exemplar" bar with a diamond-set key finial. A Phi Beta fraternity badge, the professional fraternity for music and speech founded in 1912, in a format consistent with early-to-mid 20th century Greek letter jewelry. Finely made and historically grounded, with the weight and material quality that separates a badge like this from costume pieces entirely.

Materials: gold tone, white enamel, seed pearls, stone accent

Details:

• Era: 1920s–1940s
• Markings: stamp on the back of the O
• Style / design notes: Phi letter badge with white enamel ground; seed pearl crossbar; chain-connected Exemplar key bar with diamond-set accent; dual pin stems
• Stone or material notes: Seed pearls on crossbar; faceted white stone  on key connector
• Color: Yellow gold, white enamel, cream
• Condition: Good vintage condition, please see photos 
• Measurement: 2.5" total length

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A line of light, held in balance. The stones taper gently from one end to the other, creating a sense of movement without excess—precise, considered, and quietly luminous.

Materials:
Gold-tone metal, rhinestones

Details:

• Signed Dior on back
• Graduated marquise-cut clear rhinestones
• Linear bar silhouette with subtle taper
• Prong-set stones for a clean, elevated finish
• Classic rollover pin closure
• Era: late 1970s–1980s
• Measurement: approx. 2.25"–2.75" 
• Condition: vintage with gentle surface wear consistent with age

A finely detailed oval medallion depicts a classical Roman profile — the kind of motif that has moved through centuries of jewelry without losing its authority. Set in warm gold-tone metal with a beaded border, the face carries the quiet gravity of ancient coinage. The long pin closes with a cylindrical bullet clasp, practical and period-appropriate. A refined accent for a lapel, scarf, or collar.

Materials 12k Goldfill

Details

• Era: 1970s–1980s
• Markings: Faint stamping visible on pin shaft, 1/20 12k goldfill
• Style / design notes: Oval medallion top with classical Roman portrait, beaded border, bullet-style push clasp
  
• Function: Stick pin / lapel pin with removable bullet clasp
• Color: Gold-tone
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition

Measurement: Face .3", full pin length 2.25"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Hand-modeled English bone china at its most domestic and charming — a yellow rose in full bloom surrounded by blue forget-me-nots and green serrated leaves, each petal and floret individually shaped and painted by hand. Denton China operated out of Staffordshire from 1945 until its acquisition by Aynsley in 1968, producing bone china "fantasies" — flower brooches, birds, and baskets — that have become quietly collectible. The stamped back confirms its English origin and places it squarely within that twenty-three year production window. Fragile as all china jewelry is, and best worn with intention.

Materials Hand-modeled and hand-painted English bone china; brass pin back

Details

• Era: c. 1945–1968 (Denton China production period)
• Markings: Stamped "Denton China / Made in England" on reverse
• Style / design notes: Central yellow rose in full spiral bloom; surrounding blue forget-me-not florets with orange centers; five green serrated leaves forming base; fully three-dimensional, hand-modeled construction
  
• Function: Pin brooch with roll-over safety clasp
• Color: Yellow, white, blue, green, orange
• Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear consistent with age; please handle with care as bone china is fragile

Measurement: 1.5"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A simple circle, made interesting by its surface — the band is covered in fine granulation-style texture with scattered raised dots that catch light across the curve, anchored by a single deep red stone set in a smooth round bezel at the base. The stone has the color and depth of a garnet, though material is unverified and sold as-is. Modest in scale, confident in presence — the kind of pin that works on a collar or a scarf without demanding attention.

Materials Gold-tone base metal; deep red bezel-set stone 

Details

• Era: c. 1940s–1960s
  
• Style / design notes: Open circle form with scalloped outer edge; overall granulation-style raised dot texture; single round deep red stone in smooth bezel setting at lower right; simple bar pin clasp
• Stone notes: Deep red round stone, bezel set
• Function: Pin brooch with simple bar clasp
• Color: Gold tone / deep red
• Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear consistent with age; warm patina

Measurement: 1.15" diameter 

Collected by Mineral and Matter

An open oval frame — the kind that once held a miniature portrait — crowned with a spray of cast flowers, leaves, and berries that spill naturally over the top edge. The form draws directly from the Victorian tradition of locket frames and mourning jewelry, here reinterpreted as a purely decorative brooch with no stone or image inside. The empty center is the point: it frames whatever lies beneath it on the fabric, turning a simple lapel into something more considered. The oxidized silver tone gives the cast detail real depth.

Materials Silver-tone base metal, oxidized finish

Details

• Era: c. 1960s–1980s, Victorian revival style
  
• Style / design notes: Open oval frame with beaded inner border and scalloped outer edge; dimensional floral and leaf garland crown with blossoms, buds, and foliage; oxidized finish emphasizes relief; asymmetrical botanical spray
  
• Function: Pin brooch with simple bar clasp
• Color: Silver tone, oxidized
• Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear consistent with age

Measurement: 1.6"

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

The geometry is precise and deliberate — a black enamel diamond lozenge at center, set with a small floral marcasite cluster, flanked by symmetrical openwork filigree wings dense with pave-set steel-grey stones. The combination of jet-black enamel and gunmetal sparkle is a direct echo of the 1920s German marcasite and onyx tradition, here translated into a silver-tone reproduction piece with the same graphic authority. Wears beautifully on a black dress collar, a blazer lapel, or a hat brim.

Materials Silver-tone base metal; black enamel; marcasite-style pave-set stones (cut steel or paste); openwork filigree frame

Details

• Era: c. 1970s–1980s, Art Deco revival style
  
• Style / design notes: Horizontal bar form; central black enamel diamond lozenge with pave marcasite floral motif; symmetrical openwork filigree side panels; scalloped border edge; pave-set grey stones throughout
• Stone notes: Marcasite-style stones (cut steel or dark paste); bezel and pave set
• Function: Pin brooch with simple bar clasp
• Color: Silver tone, black, gunmetal grey
• Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear consistent with age

Measurement: Approximately 1.6" x .5"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Cobalt and ice-blue enamel layered over a sculpted gold-tone body — this parrot perches on a naturalistic branch with the casual confidence of something that belongs in a terrarium or a rain forest, not a jewelry box. The face is the most alive part: a cluster of clear rhinestones forms the cheek patch, with a single pink rhinestone at the eye that gives the bird a knowing, slightly amused expression. White enamel accents the throat and wing, softening the deep blue body. A piece that rewards a second look.

Materials Gold-tone base metal; blue and white enamel; clear and pink rhinestones

Details

• Era: c. 1950s–1960s
  
• Style / design notes: Figural parrot or macaw perched on forked branch; cobalt and teal blue enamel body with white enamel chest and wing accents; clear rhinestone cheek cluster; single pink rhinestone eye; textured feather detail on body
• Stone notes: Clear rhinestones (cheek cluster); pink rhinestone (eye); prong set
• Function: Pin brooch with roll-over safety clasp
• Color: Cobalt blue, white, gold tone, pink
• Condition: Great vintage condition

Measurement: 2" x 1.5"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Four deeply textured petals curve and twist into a loose bow — each surface engraved with fine parallel lines that catch the light like silk ribbon pressed into metal. The composition sits somewhere between a gardenia and a tied sash, with two small feather-like buds emerging at the center knot. The warm antique gold tone and dimensional construction give it the weight and presence of a much more expensive piece. Wears beautifully on a coat lapel, a scarf, or pinned to the neckline of a simple dress.

Materials Gold-tone base metal

Details

• Era: c. 1950s–1960s
  
• Style / design notes: Double-leaf bow form; four curved petal lobes with fine parallel line engraving; central feather or bud accent; dimensional, three-dimensional construction; warm antique gold patina
  
• Function: Pin brooch with simple bar clasp
• Color: Warm antique gold tone
• Condition: Great vintage condition

• Measurement: 2.75" x 1"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

The fleur-de-lis has marked everything from French royalty to New Orleans ironwork — a symbol that carries centuries of heraldic weight in three simple curves. This brooch renders it with confident dimensionality: a raised central spine, curved lateral petals, and a beaded collar band that cinches the form at its waist. The warm gold tone has developed a gentle patina that deepens the relief. Small enough to anchor a lapel without overwhelming it, substantial enough to wear alone.

Materials Gold-tone base metal

Details

• Era: c. 1950s–1960s
• Markings: Unsigned
• Style / design notes: Classic fleur-de-lis form; high-relief dimensional construction; raised central blade with flanking curved petals; beaded collar detail at waist; smooth polished surfaces
• Stone notes: None
• Function: Pin brooch with simple bar clasp
• Color: Warm gold tone
• Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear and natural patina consistent with age

Measurement: Approximately 1.25" x 1"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Trifari distilled the sailboat into its essential geometry here — a single sweeping mast, triangular sails reduced to pure line and negative space, a curved hull that echoes the horizon. It is a study in confident restraint, the kind of design that looks as current now as it did when it left the studio. Signed with the crown Trifari mark and copyright symbol, placing it firmly within the label's most collectible mid-century period. Trifari's reputation for designer-quality costume jewelry — built under head designer Alfred Philippe and worn by First Lady Mamie Eisenhower — makes signed pieces consistently sought after.

Materials Gold-tone base metal

Details

• Era: c. 1955–1969 (crown Trifari with © mark)
• Markings: Signed "Crown Trifari ©" on reverse
• Style / design notes: Figural sailboat; fully openwork; angular modernist interpretation; single mast with swept sails and curved hull; matte and polished surface contrast
  
• Function: Pin brooch with roll-over safety clasp
• Color: Gold tone
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition

Measurement: Approximately 1.5"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A wink of mid-century wit — this figural brooch renders the iconic cat-eye glasses frame in miniature, complete with rhinestone-set upper rims and the characteristic upswept corners that defined the decade's eyewear silhouette. Novelty jewelry of this type was enormously popular in the 1950s, when wearing a miniature version of an everyday object was a form of playful self-expression. The open frames give it a light, graphic quality that reads well on a lapel, collar, or hat brim.

Materials Gold-tone base metal; clear prong-set rhinestones

Details

• Era: c. 1950s–early 1960s
  
• Style / design notes: Figural cat-eye eyeglasses form; rhinestones set along upper frame and upswept corners; open lens frames; standard pin-back clasp
• Stone notes: Clear glass rhinestones; prong set along top bar and cat-eye tips
• Function: Pin brooch
• Color: Gold tone 
• Condition: Great vintage condition

Measurement: Approximately 1.75"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

The circle pin had its heyday in the 1950s, and this one hits every note of the form — a twisted rope-twist hoop framing a three-dimensional rose in full bloom, stem curling naturally through the open center. Stamped 1/20 12K gold filled, meaning the gold layer comprises at least 1/20th of the total metal weight — a durable, quality construction used widely in American mid-century jewelry. The rose is sculpted with genuine attention: petals spiral inward, leaves are individually veined, and the composition feels less like costume jewelry and more like a miniature still life.

Materials 1/20 12K gold filled

Details

• Era: c. 1950s
• Markings: Stamped 1/20 12K GF on reverse of rose
• Style / design notes: Open circle form with rope-twist outer border; double inner ring; three-dimensional rose with spiraled petals and veined leaves; stem curves through center
  
• Function: Pin brooch with roll-over safety clasp
• Color: Warm yellow gold
• Condition: Great vintage condition

Measurement: Approximately 1.5"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A study in motion — this brooch draws the eye through a sweeping spiral of channel-set baguettes, pavé rounds, and marquise rhinestones arranged in an open, ribbon-like composition. The layered design is characteristic of late Art Deco and early Retro costume jewelry, where geometric precision meets organic flourish. Unsigned but finely constructed, with the tight stone-setting and rhodium-toned base metal typical of quality American makers from the 1940s. Wears beautifully pinned to a lapel, a scarf, or the neckline of a dark dress.

Materials Silver-tone base metal, clear prong-set and channel-set glass rhinestones

Details

• Era: c. 1940s — late Art Deco / early Retro
  
• Style / design notes: Open circular swirl form; mixed stone cuts — baguette fan arc, pavé round sections, central marquise cluster; ribbon-like layered frame
• Stone notes: Clear glass rhinestones; baguette, marquise, and round cuts
• Function: Pin brooch with roll-over safety clasp
• Color: Silver / clear
• Condition: Great vintage condition

Measurement: Approximately 1.5" in diameter

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A carved shell mottled olive and deep green, cool to the touch — rests in a gold-tone mount of textured claw-form legs and a pointed tail, the whole creature assembled with the unhurried confidence of something built to last. Turtle jewelry has been a quiet constant across cultures and centuries, carrying associations of longevity and groundedness that feel as relevant now as ever. The jade shell is hand-carved with shell pattern detail, and the contrast between the stone's natural variation and the warm gold-tone surround gives the piece a genuinely organic presence. Unsigned but consistent with mid-century jade and stone figural jewelry.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal mount; carved natural nephrite jade shell (unverified — tests as stone, cold to the touch, consistent with nephrite jade or serpentine)

Details:

• Era: c. 1960s–1970s
  
• Style / design notes: Naturalistic turtle form; carved jade shell with incised pattern detail; gold-tone claw-foot legs, head mount, and pointed tail; needle pin back
• Stone or material notes: Carved green stone shell
• Function: Lapel brooch
• Color: Olive and deep green with gold tone
• Condition: Great vintage condition, gentle gold wear around edges

Measurement: 1.25" long

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A flower basket in gold-tone metal — its woven base rising into a mounded canopy of tiny blossoms accented with clear rhinestones — conceals a hinged lid that opens to reveal a solid perfume or glace compartment inside. Avon produced these functional locket brooches throughout the 1970s as a signature novelty line: wearable vessels for their solid perfumes, collectible in their own right long after the fragrance is gone. The basket weave texture, rope-trim handle, and floral detailing are all precisely rendered at a compact scale. Signed on the interior lid.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal; clear rhinestone accents; hinged locket mechanism with inner perfume compartment

Details:

• Era: c. 1970s
• Markings: Signed "Avon ©" on interior of hinged lid
• Style / design notes: Flower basket form with woven base texture, rope-handle trim, and mounded floral top; hinged oval lid opens to solid perfume/compartment; needle pin back
• Stone or material notes: Clear rhinestone accents, perfume compartment retains faint original scent
• Function: Wearable solid perfume locket brooch
• Color: Gold tone
• Condition: Great vintage condition, hinge functional, still contains perfume

Measurement: 1.75" tall

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A windswept bonsai in miniature — its sinuous gold-tone trunk rising from a deep green rectangular glass base rimmed in pavé clear rhinestones, the canopy spreading into clusters of gold leaves set with alternating emerald and clear rhinestones. The bonsai form carries centuries of meaning in East Asian tradition: patience, resilience, the beauty of things shaped slowly over time. As a brooch it translates that stillness into something worn and carried. A rare and particular piece that appeals well beyond the usual costume jewelry collector.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal; deep green rectangular glass base; clear pavé rhinestone trim; emerald and clear rhinestone flower clusters; needle pin with roller catch

Details:

• Era: c. 1980s–1990s
  
• Style / design notes: Sculpted bonsai form with sinuous trunk; gold-tone leaf canopy set with emerald and clear rhinestones; rectangular green glass planter base with pavé rhinestone border
• Stone or material notes: Green glass base; emerald green and clear rhinestones — all simulated; no natural stones
• Function: Lapel brooch
• Color: Gold tone, deep green, and clear
• Condition: Great Vintage Condition

Measurement: 2" tall

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Long-limbed and self-possessed, this stylized cat brooch captures the sleek, graphic feline silhouette that defined mid-century American costume jewelry. The brushed and textured gold-tone body contrasts with a slim collar of aurora borealis rhinestones — their iridescent flash the only ornament the cat needs. The exaggerated proportions and confident pose feel as current now as they did sixty years ago. A piece for the lapel, the scarf, or the coat.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal; aurora borealis rhinestone collar accent; needle pin with roller catch

Details:

• Era: c. 1960s–1970s
  
• Style / design notes: Seated stylized cat with elongated legs and curled tail; brushed texture body; slim AB rhinestone collar; open eye cutouts; needle pin back
• Stone or material notes: Aurora borealis rhinestones at collar 
• Function: Lapel / scatter brooch
• Color: Gold tone with iridescent AB rhinestones
• Condition: Good vintage condition, some gold tone loss

Measurement: 2.5" tall

Collected by Mineral and Matter

• Brand: Authentic signed Monet (stamped on the reverse)
• Era: Circa 1960s–1970s
• Style: Mid-Century Modernist / Abstract Swirl / Tailored Metal
• Metal: Heavy gold-plated base metal alloy
• Closure: Secure rolling safety clasp pin
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition; the gold plating remains rich, bright, and uniform with minimal age-appropriate surface wear. The pin mechanism works flawlessly.

• Era: Circa 1970s–1980s
• Style: Monogram / Script Initial / Victorian Revival
• Metal: Hematite-tone or gunmetal-tone base metal
• Stones: marcasite
• Condition: Good vintage condition; all stones are present and retain their original dark sparkle. The rolling safety clasp is secure and fully functional.

• Era: Circa 1970s–1980s
• Style: Monogram / Script Initial / Victorian Revival
• Metal: Hematite-tone or gunmetal-tone base metal
• Stones: marcasite
• Condition: Good vintage condition; all stones are present and retain their original dark sparkle. The rolling safety clasp is secure and fully functional.

Two pins that were never meant to match and are better for it — a brushed gold-tone diamond with a curved sweep of ice-blue baguettes along one edge, and a silver-tone round set with a large faceted clear crystal in a scalloped crown. Scatter pins like these were a mid-century staple, worn in clusters on lapels and collars, and the mismatched pairing reads as intentional by contemporary standards. Sold as a set; wear to the reverse of the crystal pin, light wear to the gold tone square.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal, silver-tone base metal, blue baguette stones, clear faceted crystal

Details:

• Era: 1950s–1960s
• Markings: "Balloun Reg'd" on crystal pin butterfly back; "Jandy Reg'd" on square pin butterfly back
• Style / design notes: Diamond-form brushed gold-tone pin with curved blue baguette accent; round silver-tone pin with large prong-set faceted crystal in scalloped setting
• Stone or material notes: Ice-blue baguette stones, identity unconfirmed; clear faceted crystal
• Color: Gold-tone, silver-tone, ice blue, clear
• Condition: Good vintage condition; tone loss and wear to reverse of crystal pin, light wear to gold square; fronts presentable
• Measurement: Approximately 3/8" each

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A single faux pearl sits atop a slender curved gold-tone stem flanked by two engraved leaves — the whole piece no bigger than a fingertip, and entirely self-contained in its elegance. It has the quality of something found in a garden just before bloom, reduced to its essential geometry. The large disc pin back is a practical touch that keeps the piece secure on delicate fabrics. Wear it alone at the collar or cluster it with other small pins.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal stem and leaves; faux pearl bud; large disc roll-over pin back

Details:

• Era: c. 1970s–1980s
  
• Style / design notes: Curved botanical stem with two engraved gold-tone leaves; single oval faux pearl at apex; large round disc pin back
• Stone or material notes: Faux pearl — simulated luster finish
• Function: Scatter / lapel pin brooch
• Color: White pearl and gold tone
• Condition: Great vintage condition

Measurement: Approximately 3/4" tall

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

A sleek, elongated Siamese cat sits in perfect composure — open cutout eyes, engraved whiskers, and a curled tail that anchors the composition with quiet confidence. Gerry's produced some of the most beloved mid-century figural brooches in American costume jewelry, and cat pins were among their signature subjects. The high-polish finish and streamlined silhouette place this firmly in the 1960s modernist aesthetic.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal

Details:

• Era: 1960s
• Markings: Gerry's (partially obscured by pin mechanism)
• Style / design notes: Seated Siamese cat form, cutout eyes, engraved whisker detail, curled tail, high-polish finish, openwork legs
• Stone or material notes: None
• Color: Gold-tone
• Condition: Excellent Vintage Condition
• Measurement: 1.5" x 0.75"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

An engraved bow suspends a beaded-border oval frame holding an original black and white photograph of a young man — the classic form of the WWII-era sweetheart pin, worn by women to keep a loved one close while they were away. The photograph appears original to the piece, making this as much a found artifact as a piece of jewelry. Unsigned and quietly affecting.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal, original black and white photograph under glass

Details:

• Era: 1940s–1950s
• Markings: None
• Style / design notes: Engraved ribbon bow brooch with suspended oval portrait frame, beaded border, original black and white photo of young man
• Stone or material notes: Glass-covered photo compartment
• Color: Antique gold-tone
• Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear consistent with age; original photograph intact
• Measurement: 1" x 2"

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 slender skeleton key form set with a line of clear rhinestones along the shaft and a single pink stone at the center of the quatrefoil bow — small in scale, specific in charm. Key brooches were a recurring motif in mid-century costume jewelry, carrying quiet symbolism alongside their decorative appeal. Unsigned and in sweet original condition.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal, clear and pink glass rhinestones

Details:

• Era: 1950s–1960s
• Markings: None
• Style / design notes: Skeleton key form, rhinestone-set shaft, openwork quatrefoil bow with pink center stone, square openwork bit
• Stone or material notes: Clear glass rhinestones along shaft; single pink glass rhinestone at bow center
• Color: Gold-tone with clear and pink stones
• Condition: Gold tone loss/ chipping a a few spots on the piece, view photos
• Measurement: 1.6" long, 0.4" wide

Collected by Mineral and Matter