Peacock brooch

1867 - 1867

This piece of jewellery is a technical tour de force. Like a real peacock, the wearer cannot fail to steal the show! The feathers are set ‘en tremblant’ by the use of a flat spring and a counterweight. This technique makes the feathers tremble, as if the peacock was opening its tail. In the eighteenth century the peacock was the ultimate symbol of sublime beauty. In the course of the nineteenth century it became the personification of the femme fatale. Carefully chosen precious stones from various countries represent the peacock’s magnificent display of colour. The rubies are from Burma and of an exceptionally high quality. The sapphires come from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and the emeralds from India. Today three peacock brooches set with diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds, the bird perched on a pearl, are attributed to Gustave Baugrand (1826-1870). They date from around 1867. Only one of the brooches bears Baugrand’s signature. At some point in history, the other two lost their original fastening and back so that there is no signature and no stamp.

• Actors

  Baugrand, Gustave (Designer)

• Places and dates

  France, 1867? - 1867? (Production)

• Materials

  Diamond , Gold , Pearls , Ruby , Sapphire , Emerald

• Category

  Jewellery

• Object number

  DMK05/1

• IPR status

  Public domain