Charming Interbellum Bee Brooch, ca. 1930, with Tiger’s Eye and Diamonds

A charming Interbellum brooch from around 1930, this bee is formed in 9 carat red gold and silver, its body set with glowing tiger’s eye and its wings picked out with old rose cut diamonds. Tiny ruby eyes give it a lively, alert character. There is something wonderfully light and witty about it, yet also the careful handwork and quiet elegance that make such period insect jewels so appealing.

Jewellery Type
brooch

Condition
very good condition
more info on our condition scale

Country of origin
unknown

Style
Interbellum - The interwar period (1918-1939) is understood, within recent Western culture, to be the period between the end of the First World War and the beginning of the Second World War. This is also called the period between the wars or interbellum.
See also: Interbellum
more info on styles

Period
ca. 1930
Events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era.

Source of inspiration
Mother Nature

Theme
Bee - The bee, found in Ancient Near East and Aegean cultures, was believed to be the sacred insect that bridged the natural world to the underworld. Appearing in tomb decorations, Mycenaean tholos tombs were even shaped as beehives. Bee motifs are also seen in Maya cultures, an example being the Ah-Muzen-Cab, the Bee God, found in Maya ruins, likely designating honey-producing cities (who prized honey as food of the gods).

In ancient Egypt, the bee was an insignia of kingship associated particularly with Lower Egypt, where there may even have been a Bee King in pre-dynastic times. After the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, this symbol was incorporated in the title usually preceding the throne name of pharaoh. Honey bees, signifying immortality and resurrection, were royal emblems of the Merovingians, revived by Napoleon. The bee is also the heraldic emblem of the Barberini.

In heraldry, the bee symbolizes diligence and indefatigable effort. Someone is said to be busy as a bee when he or she works tirelessly and regardless of schedules or breaks. (from: Wikipedia)

Material 9K
red gold gold and details in silver (touchstone tested)
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Diamonds
Fifteen rose cut diamonds and senailles . A senaille is a simplified rose cut diamond, a small diamond chip with perhaps a few polished facets. We do not have the weight of the rose cuts diamonds nor the senailles which is normal in our trade when it comes to rose cut diamonds and senailles.

- All diamonds in our antique and vintage jewellery, regardless of size or shape, are verified by the IJGC laboratory as natural.

Precious stones
Two rubies . We did not check if the rubies are lab produced or not as this information has no influence on the value of this jewel. Natural rubies and lab produced rubies were both used in this era, rather more for their effect than for their intrinsic value.
Two tiger's eye stones

Birthstones
Diamond is the birthstone (or month stone) for April and ruby for July.
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Hallmarks
No trace.
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Dimensions
2,68 cm (1,06 inch) x 2,59 cm (1,02 inch)
see picture with a ruler in millimeters and inches

Weight
8,60 gram (5,53 dwt)

Adin Reference Nº
26050-0106

Copyright photography
Adin, fine antique jewellery

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