Nature Recast in Gold: A Belgian Ruby Tulip Brooch, circa 1945

Dating from around 1945, this Belgian Retro brooch takes the form of a richly stylised tulip, its sculptural yellow-gold petals traced with rows of vivid man-made rubies. The openwork flower head contrasts beautifully with the long, polished stem and sweeping leaves, giving the piece both movement and considerable presence. Bold yet graceful, it captures the period’s taste for natural motifs reimagined through strong, architectural lines.

Jewellery Type
brooch

Condition
very good condition
more info on our condition scale

Country of origin
Belgium

Style
Retro jewellery - This style refers to jewellery from circa 1935 to 1950. Typical features include bold, sculptural volume in warm yellow, pink or red gold, polished planes, concealed hinges, and channel set rows of square or calibré cut stones. Typical motifs include tank bracelets, scroll motifs, ribbon motifs, bow motifs, fan shapes, stylised flowers, broad polished gold panels, channel set calibré-cut stones. The style was shaped by late Art Deco, Second World War material shortages, Hollywood film glamour, postwar optimism, industrial design references, changing social roles.
more info on styles

Style specifics
Retro - Retro jewellery is associated with the 1940s and early 1950s. It often features large-scale stylised forms, ribbons, bows, scrolls, drapes, pink gold and coloured stones. The term Retro is a later designation. The style is bold, sculptural and decorative, often with strong gold forms and a sense of glamour suited to the fashion of the period.

Period
ca. 1945
Events & facts of this era, poetry of this era, fashion of this era.

Source of inspiration
Nature

Theme
Tulip

Material 18K
warm yellow gold (touchstone tested)
more info on precious metals

Precious stones
72 rubies (lab produced) (also called verneuil ruby).

Birthstones
Ruby is the birthstone (or month stone) for July.
more info on birthstones

Hallmarks
Belgian maker’s mark and **0730 fineness mark in a horizontal lozenge**.
Maker’s mark: a flaming bomb within the standard Belgian barrel-shaped punch, registered to P. Quintin, 22 Rue de Laeken, Brussels.
These marks came into use in Belgium around 1950.
More information about hallmarks

Dimensions
8,00 cm (3,15 inch) x 5,00 cm (1,97 inch)
see picture with a ruler in millimeters and inches

Weight
22,10 gram (14,21 dwt)

Adin Reference Nº
26128-0328

Copyright photography
Adin, fine antique jewellery

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