This butterfly-shaped brooch was crafted in England circa 1890, during the late Victorian Era. At that time, the Art Nouveau movement was just beginning
to emerge, bringing natural motifs—such as insects, flowers, and marine life—into vogue. This piece beautifully merges the imagery of a butterfly and a blossom, presenting an exquisite, lifelike design.
The jeweler selected two rubies and two sapphires for the four wings, each gem surrounded by eight colorless diamonds arranged in perfect floral symmetry—a hallmark of late 19th-century design. Every stone features the Old Mine Cut, a cushion-shaped forerunner to the modern brilliant cut that originated in the late 17th century.
True to the Art Nouveau spirit of craftsmanship revival, the brooch displays remarkable hand engraving and textural contrast—its polished and matte surfaces alternate to mirror the intricate patterns of butterfly wings. The sculpted, fan-like relief evokes a sense of delicate movement, as if the butterfly were just about to take flight.
