Peacock feather brooch

Unknown

last quarter 19th century · Silver, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, gold · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Naturalistic motifs became increasingly popular for jewelry designs in the second half of the nineteenth century, and brooches were frequently designed with a vertical axis in contrast to the horizontal format often used earlier in the century. This brooch in the form of a peacock feather employs an emerald to serve as the eye of the feather, with a circle of rubies forming the outer edge of the eye motif. Diamonds cut in two different patterns complete the feather design.

Artist

Unknown

Date

last quarter 19th century

Medium

Silver, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, gold

Culture

European

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Jacqueline Loewe Fowler, in honor of Stephanie Fowler Levin and Clay Fowler, 2016