Antique Vintage Deco Gold Wash Chinese Turquoise Enamel Bird of Paradise Brooch

  
We have similar Chinese and Enamel items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. Listing Description by: Dylan L. Age Circa : Art Deco C. Markings: Marked "SILVER" on the back of the brooch, Tested, Guaranteed. Gram Weight : 7.2 Grams. Metal Type: Gold Wash Over. Main Stone Measurements/Color: Measures 8.3 mm long by 10.8 mm wide, Opaque green-blue hue. Stone Treatment: The stone(s) appear to be untreated, but we are not certified gemologists. Stone(s) have been tested and guaranteed using a professional Presidium Duo refractive, heat, and hardness tester. Stone Cuts: Tumbled Smooth Chinese Turquoise.

Item Measurements: The brooch measures 1.59" long by 1.47" wide. Brooch, Lapel Pin, Hat Pin, Scarf Pin.

Closure Type: Pin Stem With Locking "C" Clasp. Convertible to Pendant: If desired, your local jeweler can add a bale to this piece so it can be worn as a pendant. This beautiful gold wash over.

925 sterling silver item was handmade in China. This brooch was made in the motif of a bird of paradise, and was ornately adorned. The wings, body, and tail of the bird feature swirling filigree details, which adds to the overall appearance of the item.

The wings and head of the bird are adorned with blue and green guilloche enamel. The body of the bird features a tumbled smooth Chinese turquoise stone, which is a gorgeous accent to the rest of the brooch itself.

Guilloche enamel was originally popularized by Carl Faberge, and involves placing semi-translucent enamel atop lustrous metals and other materials, creating a luminous effect. The gold wash is wearing through in places, revealing the tarnished sterling silver beneath. There is a small amount of wear to the guilloche enamel, which is not visible when the item is worn. The clasp does not perfectly close, and may need to be adjusted by a jeweler in order to be worn properly.

The price of this item has been reduce to reflect this. This listing is for the item only. The Art Deco era is famous for being the "Gatsby" or "Roaring Twenties" era. A lot of gorgeous and timeless designs in jewelry came out of this period.

Jewelry from this period was most often crafted between 1920 and 1940. Art Deco jewelry sometimes featured white gold or platinum, geometric designs, European cut diamonds, filigree, and calibre cut stones that are specifically cut to fit the design of the piece. During the Art Deco period jewelers often made jewelry upon custom order, this would often take weeks to months to completely craft by hand.

Chinese export jewelry became popular during the late Victorian period and persisted until the 1960s. During this period, Chinese craftsmen were considered by far the best in the world. The rich and wealthy would custom-order a piece through their local jeweler, who would send the design off to China to be made and sent back to Europe. This lengthy process was very expensive, making Chinese export pieces highly desirable, then and now.

Turquoise is found all over the world and has been a popular semi-precious stone used in jewelry and art for thousands of years by many different cultures; from prehistoric times to the present. Turquoise comes in many beautiful color variations; from the popular bright solid sky-blue hues to dark blue hues with dark spiderwebbing throughout, as well as aqua, teal, and many green varieties, and even some rare white with dark spiderwebbing. Chinese turquoise is considered a very valuable stone by the Chinese, second only to jade. In fact, Chinese Turquoise was often used to supplement or replace jade. Chinese turquoise was highly prized for its rarity and gorgeous, bright blue hues. Stones that exhibit a spiderweb matrix are quite rare and deeply coveted. The method of enameling originally dates all the way back to the Ancient Egyptians. The Ancient Greeks, Celts, Georgians, and Chinese all followed suit. The technique involves fusing powdered glass to a substrate, or base, by firing.

In jewelry, the base is generally a metal. Enamel is made of colored powdered glass, or may include clear powdered glass that is mixed with colorful metallic pigments. It is primarily used on decorative art or jewelry, usually small in size.

Besides jewelry, enamel can also be applied to glass, ceramic, stone, and various other materials. The Guilloche method of enameling starts with an etched metal base, usually a highly intricate and repeating geometrical pattern, that is then finished with a translucent to semi-translucent enamel to highlight the carved details underneath to show through and add a metallic luster to the piece.

Originally Guilloche bases were hand carved, but that changed during the 18th century with the invention of turn engine machinery that could carve metal patterns. In modern times, the definition of Guilloche became a blanket term for various methods of surface alteration; engraved, printed, or otherwise created. It also came to incorporate carvings which were not necessarily repetitive or geometric.

A famous example of this style was explored by Peter Carl Faberge on his eggs during the 19th century. Cartier, Boucheron, and Tiffany all followed suit, creating stunning pieces which are still in high demand today. Filigree metalworking is a delicate form of art and has been found as early as 3,000 BC in Mesopotamia. It was perfected by the Phoenicians and Etruscan civilizations between the 6th and 3rd centuries BC.

It involves stamping out a design in metal and hand bending and twirling threads, combined with tiny beads, until a final motif emerges. It is reminiscent of lace and considered one of the most difficult metalworking processes. Filigree is still a very popular technique in India and Asia. The item "Antique Vintage Deco Gold Wash Chinese Turquoise Enamel Bird of Paradise Brooch" is in sale since Saturday, July 13, 2019. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Vintage & Antique Jewelry\Fine\Art Nouveau/Art Deco 1895-1935\Pins, Brooches". The seller is "abeautifultimeco" and is located in Fort Collins, Colorado. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Metal #2: Sterling Silver
• Metal Purity #2: .925
• Modified Item: No
• Country/Region of Manufacture: China
• Material: Enamel
• Main Stone: Turquoise
• Metal: Gold Wash