Vintage Fifties/Sixties gold lion brooch enameled with diamonds and emeralds

Antique jewelry object group: brooch

Condition: excellent condition
  -  (more info on our condition scale)

Country of origin: Italy

Style: Vintage Fifties (of the twentieth century)
  -  See also: Fifties (of the twentieth century) or more info on styles

Style specifics: This type of jewelry is very specific for the fifties of the twentieth century. All sorts of animals were used as source of inspiration for the goldsmiths. Made in gold and decorated with enamel and precious stones, the result of their labour most of the times well-made, clever and cute.

Period: ca. 1960
  -  (events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era)

Source of inspiration: Mother Nature

Theme: Lion - The lion has been an icon for humanity for thousands of years, appearing in cultures across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Despite incidents of attacks on humans, lions have enjoyed a positive depiction in culture as strong and noble. A common depiction is their representation as "king of the jungle" or "king of beasts"; hence, the lion has been a popular symbol of royalty and stateliness, as well as a symbol of bravery; it is featured in several fables of the sixth century BC Greek storyteller Aesop. (from: Wikipedia)

Material: 18K yellow gold
  -  (more info on precious metals)

Technique: Enamelling is an old and widely-adopted technology. The ancient Egyptians applied enamels to pottery and stone objects. The ancient Greeks, Celts, Russians, and Chinese also used enameling processes on metal objects. Enamel is the colorful result of fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 degrees Celsius. The powder melts and flows and hardens to a smooth, durable vitreous coating on metal, glass or ceramic. According to some sources, the word enamel comes from the High German word smelzan (to smelt) via the Old French esmail. Used as a noun, "an enamel" is a usually small decorative object, coated with enamel coating, such as a champlevé or a cloisonné (different techniques).

Diamond(s): Six single brilliant cut diamonds (also called 8/8) with an estimated weight of ± 0.12ct. (colour and clarity: H/J, vs/si).

- All diamond weights, color grades and clarity are approximate since the stones were not removed from their mounts to preserve the integrity of the setting.

Precious stones: Two emeralds with an estimated weight of ± 0.10ct.
Treatment: unknown
One cabochon sapphire . We did not check if the sapphire is lab produced or not as this information has no influence on the value of this jewel. Natural sapphires and lab produced sapphires were both used in this era, rather more for their effect than for their intrinsic value. with an estimated weight of ± 0.05 ct.

Birthstones: Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April, sapphire for September and emerald for May.
  -  (more info on birthstones)

Hallmarks: Italian maker FC, plus Dutch import marks for 'Huis van st.Eloy' Rotterdam, Netherlands, since 1953.
  -  (more info on hallmarks)

Dimensions: height 3,15 cm (1,24 inch)

Weight: 14,30 gram (9,19 dwt)

Reference Nº: 17342-0229

Copyright photography: Adin, fine antique jewelry

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Jewelry with birthstones (or month stones) for:
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August - September - October - November or December.


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