Christian Dior Vintage Floral Paste Brooch 1962
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- Verso - Verso is the "back" side of a sheet of paper, art work, coin or medal. The front side is "recto".
- Paste / Rhinestone / Diamante - Paste (or rhinestone or diamante) is the name given to a coloured glass composition used for imitation gemstones, or to imitation gemstones made of glass.
Although the technique of glassmaking had been known for thousands of years, but it wasn't until a lead glass with similar optical properties to diamonds were invented by a German jeweller working in Paris (either "Stras" or 'Strasser") in the early 18th century that "paste" gemstones became popular.
There was no social stigma attached to wearing imitation stones, and they were worn in situations where highway robbery was a possibility. The 18th century settings were of very high quality, equivilent to real gemstone jewellery.
In the nineteeth century the quality of paste jewellery declined and it has remained the poor cousin to genuine gemstones ever since.
This item has been included into following indexes:
Visually similar items
A ruby set gold brooch. 18ct yellow gold, made as an abstract spray style brooch of beaten loops of gold, each centred with a single claw set pink ruby, stems in polished gold, fitted with pin to reverse. Length 4.5 cm weight: 15.2grams
22ct diamond and jade pendant five jade panels interspaced with four old mine cut diamonds, leaf mount set with two diamonds
9ct opal and sapphire flower spray brooch cluster of five milk opals interspaced with sapphires on textured petal mount
Blue topaz cluster ring, large oval Swiss blue topaz, surrounded by a cluster of small round rubies, white sapphires, tanzanties and chrome diopside, claw set in 14ct yellow gold, stamped '14K, approx. Weight 5.9 grams size N 1/2