A finely detailed oval medallion depicts a classical Roman profile — the kind of motif that has moved through centuries of jewelry without losing its authority. Set in warm gold-tone metal with a beaded border, the face carries the quiet gravity of ancient coinage. The long pin closes with a cylindrical bullet clasp, practical and period-appropriate. A refined accent for a lapel, scarf, or collar.

Materials 12k Goldfill

Details

• Era: 1970s–1980s
• Markings: Faint stamping visible on pin shaft, 1/20 12k goldfill
• Style / design notes: Oval medallion top with classical Roman portrait, beaded border, bullet-style push clasp
  
• Function: Stick pin / lapel pin with removable bullet clasp
• Color: Gold-tone
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition

Measurement: Face .3", full pin length 2.25"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Hand-modeled English bone china at its most domestic and charming — a yellow rose in full bloom surrounded by blue forget-me-nots and green serrated leaves, each petal and floret individually shaped and painted by hand. Denton China operated out of Staffordshire from 1945 until its acquisition by Aynsley in 1968, producing bone china "fantasies" — flower brooches, birds, and baskets — that have become quietly collectible. The stamped back confirms its English origin and places it squarely within that twenty-three year production window. Fragile as all china jewelry is, and best worn with intention.

Materials Hand-modeled and hand-painted English bone china; brass pin back

Details

• Era: c. 1945–1968 (Denton China production period)
• Markings: Stamped "Denton China / Made in England" on reverse
• Style / design notes: Central yellow rose in full spiral bloom; surrounding blue forget-me-not florets with orange centers; five green serrated leaves forming base; fully three-dimensional, hand-modeled construction
  
• Function: Pin brooch with roll-over safety clasp
• Color: Yellow, white, blue, green, orange
• Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear consistent with age; please handle with care as bone china is fragile

Measurement: 1.5"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A simple circle, made interesting by its surface — the band is covered in fine granulation-style texture with scattered raised dots that catch light across the curve, anchored by a single deep red stone set in a smooth round bezel at the base. The stone has the color and depth of a garnet, though material is unverified and sold as-is. Modest in scale, confident in presence — the kind of pin that works on a collar or a scarf without demanding attention.

Materials Gold-tone base metal; deep red bezel-set stone 

Details

• Era: c. 1940s–1960s
  
• Style / design notes: Open circle form with scalloped outer edge; overall granulation-style raised dot texture; single round deep red stone in smooth bezel setting at lower right; simple bar pin clasp
• Stone notes: Deep red round stone, bezel set
• Function: Pin brooch with simple bar clasp
• Color: Gold tone / deep red
• Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear consistent with age; warm patina

Measurement: 1.15" diameter 

Collected by Mineral and Matter

An open oval frame — the kind that once held a miniature portrait — crowned with a spray of cast flowers, leaves, and berries that spill naturally over the top edge. The form draws directly from the Victorian tradition of locket frames and mourning jewelry, here reinterpreted as a purely decorative brooch with no stone or image inside. The empty center is the point: it frames whatever lies beneath it on the fabric, turning a simple lapel into something more considered. The oxidized silver tone gives the cast detail real depth.

Materials Silver-tone base metal, oxidized finish

Details

• Era: c. 1960s–1980s, Victorian revival style
  
• Style / design notes: Open oval frame with beaded inner border and scalloped outer edge; dimensional floral and leaf garland crown with blossoms, buds, and foliage; oxidized finish emphasizes relief; asymmetrical botanical spray
  
• Function: Pin brooch with simple bar clasp
• Color: Silver tone, oxidized
• Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear consistent with age

Measurement: 1.6"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Cast in the tradition of European dress jewelry, this round brooch is dense with ornament — concentric rings of scrolling filigree, a scalloped border edge, and a raised pinwheel flower at the center, all in oxidized silver tone that lets the depth of the pattern read clearly. The "W. Germany" stamp on the back is a reliable date marker, placing manufacture before German reunification in 1990, and signals the quality standards associated with postwar West German jewelry production. Closes with a clip mechanism rather than a pin — secure and non-damaging to fabric.

Materials Silver-tone base metal, oxidized finish

Details

• Era: c. 1950s–1980s, pre-1990 (confirmed by W. Germany stamp)
• Markings: Stamped "W. Germany" on reverse
• Style / design notes: Circular form; layered openwork filigree with scrolling S-curve motifs; raised pinwheel floral center; scalloped outer border with marcasite-style bead detail; oxidized finish enhances relief depth
• Function: Clip brooch (clip-back mechanism, non-piercing)
• Color: Silver tone, oxidized
• Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear consistent with age

Measurement: Approximately 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) in diameter

Collected by Mineral and Matter

The geometry is precise and deliberate — a black enamel diamond lozenge at center, set with a small floral marcasite cluster, flanked by symmetrical openwork filigree wings dense with pave-set steel-grey stones. The combination of jet-black enamel and gunmetal sparkle is a direct echo of the 1920s German marcasite and onyx tradition, here translated into a silver-tone reproduction piece with the same graphic authority. Wears beautifully on a black dress collar, a blazer lapel, or a hat brim.

Materials Silver-tone base metal; black enamel; marcasite-style pave-set stones (cut steel or paste); openwork filigree frame

Details

• Era: c. 1970s–1980s, Art Deco revival style
  
• Style / design notes: Horizontal bar form; central black enamel diamond lozenge with pave marcasite floral motif; symmetrical openwork filigree side panels; scalloped border edge; pave-set grey stones throughout
• Stone notes: Marcasite-style stones (cut steel or dark paste); bezel and pave set
• Function: Pin brooch with simple bar clasp
• Color: Silver tone, black, gunmetal grey
• Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear consistent with age

Measurement: Approximately 1.6" x .5"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Cobalt and ice-blue enamel layered over a sculpted gold-tone body — this parrot perches on a naturalistic branch with the casual confidence of something that belongs in a terrarium or a rain forest, not a jewelry box. The face is the most alive part: a cluster of clear rhinestones forms the cheek patch, with a single pink rhinestone at the eye that gives the bird a knowing, slightly amused expression. White enamel accents the throat and wing, softening the deep blue body. A piece that rewards a second look.

Materials Gold-tone base metal; blue and white enamel; clear and pink rhinestones

Details

• Era: c. 1950s–1960s
  
• Style / design notes: Figural parrot or macaw perched on forked branch; cobalt and teal blue enamel body with white enamel chest and wing accents; clear rhinestone cheek cluster; single pink rhinestone eye; textured feather detail on body
• Stone notes: Clear rhinestones (cheek cluster); pink rhinestone (eye); prong set
• Function: Pin brooch with roll-over safety clasp
• Color: Cobalt blue, white, gold tone, pink
• Condition: Great vintage condition

Measurement: 2" x 1.5"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Four deeply textured petals curve and twist into a loose bow — each surface engraved with fine parallel lines that catch the light like silk ribbon pressed into metal. The composition sits somewhere between a gardenia and a tied sash, with two small feather-like buds emerging at the center knot. The warm antique gold tone and dimensional construction give it the weight and presence of a much more expensive piece. Wears beautifully on a coat lapel, a scarf, or pinned to the neckline of a simple dress.

Materials Gold-tone base metal

Details

• Era: c. 1950s–1960s
  
• Style / design notes: Double-leaf bow form; four curved petal lobes with fine parallel line engraving; central feather or bud accent; dimensional, three-dimensional construction; warm antique gold patina
  
• Function: Pin brooch with simple bar clasp
• Color: Warm antique gold tone
• Condition: Great vintage condition

• Measurement: 2.75" x 1"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

The fleur-de-lis has marked everything from French royalty to New Orleans ironwork — a symbol that carries centuries of heraldic weight in three simple curves. This brooch renders it with confident dimensionality: a raised central spine, curved lateral petals, and a beaded collar band that cinches the form at its waist. The warm gold tone has developed a gentle patina that deepens the relief. Small enough to anchor a lapel without overwhelming it, substantial enough to wear alone.

Materials Gold-tone base metal

Details

• Era: c. 1950s–1960s
• Markings: Unsigned
• Style / design notes: Classic fleur-de-lis form; high-relief dimensional construction; raised central blade with flanking curved petals; beaded collar detail at waist; smooth polished surfaces
• Stone notes: None
• Function: Pin brooch with simple bar clasp
• Color: Warm gold tone
• Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear and natural patina consistent with age

Measurement: Approximately 1.25" x 1"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Trifari distilled the sailboat into its essential geometry here — a single sweeping mast, triangular sails reduced to pure line and negative space, a curved hull that echoes the horizon. It is a study in confident restraint, the kind of design that looks as current now as it did when it left the studio. Signed with the crown Trifari mark and copyright symbol, placing it firmly within the label's most collectible mid-century period. Trifari's reputation for designer-quality costume jewelry — built under head designer Alfred Philippe and worn by First Lady Mamie Eisenhower — makes signed pieces consistently sought after.

Materials Gold-tone base metal

Details

• Era: c. 1955–1969 (crown Trifari with © mark)
• Markings: Signed "Crown Trifari ©" on reverse
• Style / design notes: Figural sailboat; fully openwork; angular modernist interpretation; single mast with swept sails and curved hull; matte and polished surface contrast
  
• Function: Pin brooch with roll-over safety clasp
• Color: Gold tone
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition

Measurement: Approximately 1.5"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A wink of mid-century wit — this figural brooch renders the iconic cat-eye glasses frame in miniature, complete with rhinestone-set upper rims and the characteristic upswept corners that defined the decade's eyewear silhouette. Novelty jewelry of this type was enormously popular in the 1950s, when wearing a miniature version of an everyday object was a form of playful self-expression. The open frames give it a light, graphic quality that reads well on a lapel, collar, or hat brim.

Materials Gold-tone base metal; clear prong-set rhinestones

Details

• Era: c. 1950s–early 1960s
  
• Style / design notes: Figural cat-eye eyeglasses form; rhinestones set along upper frame and upswept corners; open lens frames; standard pin-back clasp
• Stone notes: Clear glass rhinestones; prong set along top bar and cat-eye tips
• Function: Pin brooch
• Color: Gold tone 
• Condition: Great vintage condition

Measurement: Approximately 1.75"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

The circle pin had its heyday in the 1950s, and this one hits every note of the form — a twisted rope-twist hoop framing a three-dimensional rose in full bloom, stem curling naturally through the open center. Stamped 1/20 12K gold filled, meaning the gold layer comprises at least 1/20th of the total metal weight — a durable, quality construction used widely in American mid-century jewelry. The rose is sculpted with genuine attention: petals spiral inward, leaves are individually veined, and the composition feels less like costume jewelry and more like a miniature still life.

Materials 1/20 12K gold filled

Details

• Era: c. 1950s
• Markings: Stamped 1/20 12K GF on reverse of rose
• Style / design notes: Open circle form with rope-twist outer border; double inner ring; three-dimensional rose with spiraled petals and veined leaves; stem curves through center
  
• Function: Pin brooch with roll-over safety clasp
• Color: Warm yellow gold
• Condition: Great vintage condition

Measurement: Approximately 1.5"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A study in motion — this brooch draws the eye through a sweeping spiral of channel-set baguettes, pavé rounds, and marquise rhinestones arranged in an open, ribbon-like composition. The layered design is characteristic of late Art Deco and early Retro costume jewelry, where geometric precision meets organic flourish. Unsigned but finely constructed, with the tight stone-setting and rhodium-toned base metal typical of quality American makers from the 1940s. Wears beautifully pinned to a lapel, a scarf, or the neckline of a dark dress.

Materials Silver-tone base metal, clear prong-set and channel-set glass rhinestones

Details

• Era: c. 1940s — late Art Deco / early Retro
  
• Style / design notes: Open circular swirl form; mixed stone cuts — baguette fan arc, pavé round sections, central marquise cluster; ribbon-like layered frame
• Stone notes: Clear glass rhinestones; baguette, marquise, and round cuts
• Function: Pin brooch with roll-over safety clasp
• Color: Silver / clear
• Condition: Great vintage condition

Measurement: Approximately 1.5" in diameter

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A carved shell mottled olive and deep green, cool to the touch — rests in a gold-tone mount of textured claw-form legs and a pointed tail, the whole creature assembled with the unhurried confidence of something built to last. Turtle jewelry has been a quiet constant across cultures and centuries, carrying associations of longevity and groundedness that feel as relevant now as ever. The jade shell is hand-carved with shell pattern detail, and the contrast between the stone's natural variation and the warm gold-tone surround gives the piece a genuinely organic presence. Unsigned but consistent with mid-century jade and stone figural jewelry.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal mount; carved natural nephrite jade shell (unverified — tests as stone, cold to the touch, consistent with nephrite jade or serpentine)

Details:

• Era: c. 1960s–1970s
  
• Style / design notes: Naturalistic turtle form; carved jade shell with incised pattern detail; gold-tone claw-foot legs, head mount, and pointed tail; needle pin back
• Stone or material notes: Carved green stone shell
• Function: Lapel brooch
• Color: Olive and deep green with gold tone
• Condition: Great vintage condition, gentle gold wear around edges

Measurement: 1.25" long

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A flower basket in gold-tone metal — its woven base rising into a mounded canopy of tiny blossoms accented with clear rhinestones — conceals a hinged lid that opens to reveal a solid perfume or glace compartment inside. Avon produced these functional locket brooches throughout the 1970s as a signature novelty line: wearable vessels for their solid perfumes, collectible in their own right long after the fragrance is gone. The basket weave texture, rope-trim handle, and floral detailing are all precisely rendered at a compact scale. Signed on the interior lid.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal; clear rhinestone accents; hinged locket mechanism with inner perfume compartment

Details:

• Era: c. 1970s
• Markings: Signed "Avon ©" on interior of hinged lid
• Style / design notes: Flower basket form with woven base texture, rope-handle trim, and mounded floral top; hinged oval lid opens to solid perfume/compartment; needle pin back
• Stone or material notes: Clear rhinestone accents, perfume compartment retains faint original scent
• Function: Wearable solid perfume locket brooch
• Color: Gold tone
• Condition: Great vintage condition, hinge functional, still contains perfume

Measurement: 1.75" tall

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A windswept bonsai in miniature — its sinuous gold-tone trunk rising from a deep green rectangular glass base rimmed in pavé clear rhinestones, the canopy spreading into clusters of gold leaves set with alternating emerald and clear rhinestones. The bonsai form carries centuries of meaning in East Asian tradition: patience, resilience, the beauty of things shaped slowly over time. As a brooch it translates that stillness into something worn and carried. A rare and particular piece that appeals well beyond the usual costume jewelry collector.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal; deep green rectangular glass base; clear pavé rhinestone trim; emerald and clear rhinestone flower clusters; needle pin with roller catch

Details:

• Era: c. 1980s–1990s
  
• Style / design notes: Sculpted bonsai form with sinuous trunk; gold-tone leaf canopy set with emerald and clear rhinestones; rectangular green glass planter base with pavé rhinestone border
• Stone or material notes: Green glass base; emerald green and clear rhinestones — all simulated; no natural stones
• Function: Lapel brooch
• Color: Gold tone, deep green, and clear
• Condition: Great Vintage Condition

Measurement: 2" tall

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A gecko mid-climb, frozen in gold-tone metal with a body scattered in aurora borealis rhinestones that shift between gold, pink, and iridescent white depending on the light. Green rhinestone eyes anchor the head with just enough color to feel intentional. The textured, engraved body gives the piece a tactile quality that reads well up close and from a distance. Figural animal brooches like this one have a long history in costume jewelry — and the gecko, with its grip and stillness, translates particularly well into pin form.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal; aurora borealis rhinestones; green rhinestone eyes; needle pin with roller catch

Details:

• Era: c. 1980s–1990s
  
• Style / design notes: Climbing gecko pose; engraved and textured body; AB rhinestone cluster on torso; green rhinestone eyes; needle pin back
• Stone or material notes: Aurora borealis rhinestones and green rhinestones
• Function: Lapel / scatter brooch
• Color: Gold tone with iridescent AB and green
• Condition: Great vintage condition
• Measurement: 2" long

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Long-limbed and self-possessed, this stylized cat brooch captures the sleek, graphic feline silhouette that defined mid-century American costume jewelry. The brushed and textured gold-tone body contrasts with a slim collar of aurora borealis rhinestones — their iridescent flash the only ornament the cat needs. The exaggerated proportions and confident pose feel as current now as they did sixty years ago. A piece for the lapel, the scarf, or the coat.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal; aurora borealis rhinestone collar accent; needle pin with roller catch

Details:

• Era: c. 1960s–1970s
  
• Style / design notes: Seated stylized cat with elongated legs and curled tail; brushed texture body; slim AB rhinestone collar; open eye cutouts; needle pin back
• Stone or material notes: Aurora borealis rhinestones at collar 
• Function: Lapel / scatter brooch
• Color: Gold tone with iridescent AB rhinestones
• Condition: Good vintage condition, some gold tone loss

Measurement: 2.5" tall

Collected by Mineral and Matter

• Brand: Authentic signed Monet (stamped on the reverse)
• Era: Circa 1960s–1970s
• Style: Mid-Century Modernist / Abstract Swirl / Tailored Metal
• Metal: Heavy gold-plated base metal alloy
• Closure: Secure rolling safety clasp pin
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition; the gold plating remains rich, bright, and uniform with minimal age-appropriate surface wear. The pin mechanism works flawlessly.

• Era: Circa 1970s–1980s
• Style: Monogram / Script Initial / Victorian Revival
• Metal: Hematite-tone or gunmetal-tone base metal
• Stones: marcasite
• Condition: Good vintage condition; all stones are present and retain their original dark sparkle. The rolling safety clasp is secure and fully functional.

• Era: Circa 1970s–1980s
• Style: Monogram / Script Initial / Victorian Revival
• Metal: Hematite-tone or gunmetal-tone base metal
• Stones: marcasite
• Condition: Good vintage condition; all stones are present and retain their original dark sparkle. The rolling safety clasp is secure and fully functional.

Two pins that were never meant to match and are better for it — a brushed gold-tone diamond with a curved sweep of ice-blue baguettes along one edge, and a silver-tone round set with a large faceted clear crystal in a scalloped crown. Scatter pins like these were a mid-century staple, worn in clusters on lapels and collars, and the mismatched pairing reads as intentional by contemporary standards. Sold as a set; wear to the reverse of the crystal pin, light wear to the gold tone square.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal, silver-tone base metal, blue baguette stones, clear faceted crystal

Details:

• Era: 1950s–1960s
• Markings: "Balloun Reg'd" on crystal pin butterfly back; "Jandy Reg'd" on square pin butterfly back
• Style / design notes: Diamond-form brushed gold-tone pin with curved blue baguette accent; round silver-tone pin with large prong-set faceted crystal in scalloped setting
• Stone or material notes: Ice-blue baguette stones, identity unconfirmed; clear faceted crystal
• Color: Gold-tone, silver-tone, ice blue, clear
• Condition: Good vintage condition; tone loss and wear to reverse of crystal pin, light wear to gold square; fronts presentable
• Measurement: Approximately 3/8" each

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Every surface of this small mouse is worked in Toledo damascene — gold and silver inlay etched into a blackened metal ground in the fine foliate patterns that made Spanish Toledo work internationally sought from the mid-century onward. The round ears, curling tail, and red enamel eyes give it warmth without sentimentality, and the craftsmanship is genuinely meticulous at this scale. A piece that rewards close looking.

Materials: Damascene base metal, gold and silver inlay, red enamel

Details:

• Era: 1950s–1960s
• Markings: None
• Style / design notes: Figural mouse form, all-over Toledo damascene inlay in foliate pattern, gold and silver on blackened ground, red enamel eyes, curling tail, roller catch pin back
• Stone or material notes: Red enamel eyes
• Color: Gold, silver, black, red
• Condition: great vintage condition
• Measurement: 1.6" × .75"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A single faux pearl sits atop a slender curved gold-tone stem flanked by two engraved leaves — the whole piece no bigger than a fingertip, and entirely self-contained in its elegance. It has the quality of something found in a garden just before bloom, reduced to its essential geometry. The large disc pin back is a practical touch that keeps the piece secure on delicate fabrics. Wear it alone at the collar or cluster it with other small pins.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal stem and leaves; faux pearl bud; large disc roll-over pin back

Details:

• Era: c. 1970s–1980s
  
• Style / design notes: Curved botanical stem with two engraved gold-tone leaves; single oval faux pearl at apex; large round disc pin back
• Stone or material notes: Faux pearl — simulated luster finish
• Function: Scatter / lapel pin brooch
• Color: White pearl and gold tone
• Condition: Great vintage condition

Measurement: Approximately 3/4" tall

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A fully pavé-set elephant head with a trunk that moves — three articulated segments, each covered in crystal, curling upward at the tip for good luck. The emerald rhinestone eyes read as deliberate and considered against the field of white crystals, and the two-tone treatment — silver-tone pavé body against gold-tone ear rims and tusks — gives the piece a layered richness that photographs well and wears better. The back shows some tone loss consistent with age; the front is excellent throughout, with no missing stones.

Materials: Gold-tone and silver-tone base metal, pavé white rhinestones, emerald green rhinestone eyes

Details:

• Era: 1980s
• Markings: Mold numbers "1" and "2" on reverse
• Style / design notes: Elephant head figural form, fully pavé-set face and ears, articulated three-segment trunk, gold-tone ear rims and tusks, two-tone finish
• Stone or material notes: Pavé white rhinestones throughout; emerald green faceted rhinestone eyes
• Color: Silver-tone, gold-tone, green
• Condition: Good vintage condition; tone loss to reverse only, front excellent, all stones present, trunk moves freely
• Measurement: Approximately 3.5" × 2"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A large faceted amber plastic stone, warm and deeply transparent, forms the body of a pineapple crowned with a spray of finely textured gold-tone leaves — the kind of piece that commits fully to its own logic and is better for it. The converter hook appears original, making this equally at home on a lapel or a chain. Some wear to the gold tone on the reverse, as expected from a piece that has clearly been worn and loved; the front presents beautifully.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal, faceted amber plastic stone

Details:

• Era: Late 1950s–1960s
• Markings: None
• Style / design notes: Pineapple figural form, finely textured gold-tone leaf crown with ball center, large oval faceted body, original brooch-to-pendant converter hook
• Stone or material notes: Faceted amber plastic, high clarity, warm honey tone
• Color: Gold-tone, amber
• Condition: Good vintage condition; wear and tone loss to reverse, a bit of tone loss on the ends of the leafs
• Measurement: 2.5" × 1"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A deep burgundy enamel apple, three-dimensional and fully in the round, opens to reveal a pavé interior of bright white rhinestones — as if the fruit has been split to show something worth finding inside. The green enamel leaf and gold-tone stem are cleanly rendered, and the contrast between the lacquered exterior and the glittering cross-section gives this piece more wit than the typical novelty pin. A product of the 1980s figural brooch revival, when costume jewelry leaned fully into the pleasure of the unexpected.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal, enamel, rhinestones

Details:

• Era: 1980s
• Markings: None
• Style / design notes: Three-dimensional apple form, deep burgundy enamel exterior, pavé rhinestone interior panel, green enamel leaf, gold-tone stem
• Stone or material notes: White rhinestones, pavé set; green and burgundy enamel
• Color: Burgundy, green, gold-tone
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition
• Measurement: 1.3" × 1.1"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

An open filigree frame of pierced gold-tone metal surrounds a glassy amber cabochon, its radiating lines catching light the way only old glass does. The rectangular silhouette with scalloped edges, floral accents, and small paste details at each blossom center places this firmly in the Art Deco transitional period — a moment when Victorian ornament was being stripped back but not yet abandoned. The pin back is a roller catch style consistent with 1920s–1930s manufacture, and the condition throughout is remarkably clean.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal, tiger's eye glass cabochon, paste rhinestone accents

Details:

• Era: 1920s–1930s
• Markings: None
• Style / design notes: Rectangular open filigree frame with scalloped edges, floral motifs, central oval cabochon with small paste flower overlay, roller catch pin back
• Stone or material notes: Glassy amber cabochon with radiating pattern, likely tiger's eye glass; small paste rhinestones at floral centers believed to be camphor glass
• Color: Gold-tone, warm amber
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition
• Measurement: 1" × .5"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A quill feather rendered in Spanish damascene — the centuries-old Toledo tradition of inlaying fine gold wire and colored enamel into blackened metal — with yellow, green, and white scrolling detail across every barb. A matching damascene ball serves as the chained safety cap at the pin's end, making the entire piece a cohesive object from tip to terminus. Spanish damascene stick pins of this quality were among the most sought-after tourist and export pieces of the post-war decades.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal, Spanish damascene enamel inlay (yellow, green, white on blackened metal)

Details:

• Era: 1950s–1960s
• Markings: "Spain" stamped on reverse
• Style / design notes: Feather/quill form, full damascene enamel coverage, scrolling gold inlay detail, chained matching damascene ball safety cap
• Stone or material notes: Toledo-style damascene — gold wire and colored enamel inlaid into blackened base metal
• Color: Yellow, green, white, and black with gold inlay
• Condition: Vintage with wear consistent and tone loss is a few places, see images
• Measurement: 3.5" long

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A sleek, elongated Siamese cat sits in perfect composure — open cutout eyes, engraved whiskers, and a curled tail that anchors the composition with quiet confidence. Gerry's produced some of the most beloved mid-century figural brooches in American costume jewelry, and cat pins were among their signature subjects. The high-polish finish and streamlined silhouette place this firmly in the 1960s modernist aesthetic.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal

Details:

• Era: 1960s
• Markings: Gerry's (partially obscured by pin mechanism)
• Style / design notes: Seated Siamese cat form, cutout eyes, engraved whisker detail, curled tail, high-polish finish, openwork legs
• Stone or material notes: None
• Color: Gold-tone
• Condition: Excellent Vintage Condition
• Measurement: 1.5" x 0.75"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

An engraved bow suspends a beaded-border oval frame holding an original black and white photograph of a young man — the classic form of the WWII-era sweetheart pin, worn by women to keep a loved one close while they were away. The photograph appears original to the piece, making this as much a found artifact as a piece of jewelry. Unsigned and quietly affecting.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal, original black and white photograph under glass

Details:

• Era: 1940s–1950s
• Markings: None
• Style / design notes: Engraved ribbon bow brooch with suspended oval portrait frame, beaded border, original black and white photo of young man
• Stone or material notes: Glass-covered photo compartment
• Color: Antique gold-tone
• Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear consistent with age; original photograph intact
• Measurement: 1" x 2"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Description: A study in contrast and craft — this brooch centers a hand-etched bird amid scrolling botanicals, rendered in gold inlay on oxidized steel in the Toledo tradition. The octagonal panel is framed by an elaborate gold-tone filigree border that catches light from every angle. Damascene work traces its roots to Moorish Spain, and pieces like this one were made at their peak in mid-century Toledo workshops. Wears beautifully on a lapel, coat, or scarf.

Materials: Gold-toned metal filigree frame; oxidized steel center panel with gold inlay (damasquino technique)

Details:

• Era: c. 1950s–1960s
  
• Style / design notes: Octagonal damascene center panel; ornate looped filigree surround; bird in flight with floral and scroll motifs
• Material notes: Gold inlay on blackened steel
• Function: Pin brooch
• Color: Black and gold
• Condition: Good vintage condition, some gold tone loss around edges

Measurement: 1.6" × 1.9"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A slender skeleton key form set with a line of clear rhinestones along the shaft and a single pink stone at the center of the quatrefoil bow — small in scale, specific in charm. Key brooches were a recurring motif in mid-century costume jewelry, carrying quiet symbolism alongside their decorative appeal. Unsigned and in sweet original condition.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal, clear and pink glass rhinestones

Details:

• Era: 1950s–1960s
• Markings: None
• Style / design notes: Skeleton key form, rhinestone-set shaft, openwork quatrefoil bow with pink center stone, square openwork bit
• Stone or material notes: Clear glass rhinestones along shaft; single pink glass rhinestone at bow center
• Color: Gold-tone with clear and pink stones
• Condition: Gold tone loss/ chipping a a few spots on the piece, view photos
• Measurement: 1.6" long, 0.4" wide

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A black enamel top hat with a red floral cockade sits above a trailing checkered ribbon — the unmistakable visual language of Indianapolis Motor Speedway rendered in miniature. Dated 1990 on the reverse, this is a wearable piece of American motorsport history from the era when souvenir pins were a genuine collector's pursuit. The twisted gold-tone pin stem and cylindrical safety cap add a period-correct finish.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal, black, gold, and red enamel

Details:

• Era: 1990
• Markings: "Indianapolis 1990" on reverse
• Style / design notes: Top hat motif with checkered ribbon and red floral cockade, twisted gold-tone pin stem, cylindrical safety cap
• Stone or material notes: Black, gold checkerboard, and red enamel fill
• Color: Black, gold-tone, and red
• Condition: Great Vintage Condition
• Measurement: 2.1" long, hat motif 1.5" across

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A white enamel unicorn head with purple and gold mane detail sits atop a slender gold-tone stick pin — small in scale, specific in character. Stick pins enjoyed a revival in the late 1970s through the 1980s as a way to personalize lapels, scarves, and knit collars, and fantasy motifs like unicorns were among the most collectible. 

Materials: Gold-tone base metal, white and pink/purple enamel

Details:

• Era: 1970s–1980s
• Markings: None
• Style / design notes: Unicorn head motif, cloisonné-style enamel detailing, gold-tone horn and mane outlines, bullet-end safety cap
• Stone or material notes: White and purple enamel fill
• Color: White, purple, and gold-tone
• Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear consistent with age, tone loss on the end off the piece and varnish a has a bit of yellowing on the face on the unicorn. (see images for reference.) 
• Measurement: 2.25" long, 0.5" wide

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Add a touch of timeless charm to your collection with this authentic vintage horseshoe brooch. A classic symbol of protection and good fortune, this piece features a graceful arrangement of faceted teal rhinestones, each held in a secure prong setting. The deep, moody blue-green stones (often called "Montana Blue" in vintage jewelry) offer a beautiful contrast against the darkened "antiqued" metal. Whether worn on a lapel, scarf, or hat, this lucky talisman is a perfect blend of equestrian tradition and Art Deco elegance.

• Brand: Unsigned / Estate Find.
• Era: Vintage 1940's
• Material: Antiqued silver-tone metal with faceted glass rhinestones.
• Style: Edwardian / Art Deco Revival / Equestrian.
• Design: Open horseshoe "Good Luck" motif.
• Closure: Secure rollover safety clasp 
• Condition: Good vintage condition with a desirable aged patina.

A charming vintage figural stick pin featuring a detailed red enamel rose with green enamel leaves, all outlined in bright gold tone in a cloisonné style. The petals show lovely depth and the leaf veining is crisp. Comes with the original gold-tone safety bullet tip.

Style: Figural stick pin / lapel pin
Enamel: Red rose, green leaves, cloisonné-style
Metal: Gold-tone base metal
Size: Approx. 2.5" total length
Markings: Unmarked
Era: Circa 1970s–1980s
Condition: Excellent vintage — enamel vivid and intact, pin straight, safety tip present

Charming matched pair of signed Gerry's swan brooches in silver-tone with pebbled body texture, finely etched wing feathers, and a bright blue rhinestone eye on each. Sold individually — ideal as scatter pins or a collar pair.

Brand: Gerry's (signed)
Metal: Silver-tone base metal
Stones: Blue rhinestone eyes
Quantity: 2 matching brooches
Era: Circa 1960s–1970s
Condition: Good vintage — all rhinestones present, clasps functional

Striking vintage brooch featuring a fully dimensional silver-tone rose with deeply sculpted layered petals, flanked by two textured leaf sprays. The bold 3D form and heavy casting give this an almost sculptural quality — a real statement piece at 2 inches wide. Unmarked, likely mid-century.

Style: Figural floral brooch
Metal: Silver-tone base metal
Size: Approx. 2" x 1"
Markings: Unmarked
Condition: Good vintage — some oxidation in recesses, clasp functional

Radiating arms of prong-set rhinestones extend from a larger central stone in a starburst formation that evokes both a snowflake and a distant star. The pale ice-blue stones catch light with quiet intensity — a characteristic of quality glass rhinestones from this era. Unsigned and effortlessly wearable on a lapel, collar, or knitwear.

Materials: Silver-tone base metal, pale blue glass rhinestones

Details:

• Era: 1950s–1960s
• Markings: None
• Style / design notes: Starburst/snowflake form, radiating arms, prong-set stones throughout, larger central stone
• Stone or material notes: Pale ice-blue glass rhinestones, prong-set
• Color: Silver-tone with pale blue stones
• Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear consistent with age
• Measurement: 1.5" diameter

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Three looping openwork petals build upward in concentric ridged layers, crowned by a polished dome — the overall effect is somewhere between a garden bloom and a satellite in orbit. The combination of matte textured wire and high-polish center reflects the sculptural confidence of 1960s American costume jewelry at its best. Unsigned and ready to wear.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal

Details:

• Era: 1960s
• Markings: None
• Style / design notes: Three-petal flower form, dimensional concentric openwork layers, polished dome center, single curved stem, matte textured finish on petals
• Stone or material notes: None — polished gold-tone dome center
• Color: Gold-tone
• Condition: Good Vintage condition, some wear and chipping on the back of the brooch
• Measurement: 2" x 2.25"

Collected by Mineral and Matter

• Designer: Caron (Presented on original brand card).
• Design: Intricate three-row gold-tone mesh with crystal-encrusted geometric stations.
• Material: High-polished gold-tone metal and faceted clear glass crystals.
• Set Includes: 1 graduated mesh necklace and 1 pair of matching articulated drop earrings.
• Backing: Necklace features a secure adjustable lobster clasp; earrings have comfortable post-and-butterfly backings for pierced ears.
• Year Estimate: Circa 1980s.
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition with original crystals secure and a bright, lustrous finish.
• Style: Hollywood Regency, 80s Glamour, Formal Statement.

A butterfly in mid-flight rendered in brushed satin gold tone — the wings textured with a fine crosshatch finish that diffuses light softly, while a column of prong-set amethyst marquise rhinestones runs through the center body in a cascading spine of deep purple. The contrast between the quiet, matte gold wings and the faceted stones creates a piece that is both restrained and luminous. A design sensibility associated with mid-century American makers like DeNicola and Lisner — refined naturalism at its best.

Add a touch of timeless charm to your accessory collection with this vintage gold-tone stick pin. The piece features a beautifully textured heart-shaped head with a scalloped edge and elegant diagonal ribbing that catches the light from every angle. Perfect for securing a lapel, adorning a scarf, or adding a classic accent to a hat or tie, this pin is a versatile staple for any vintage enthusiast.

Design: Ribbed heart with scalloped edges.
Material: Polished gold-tone metal.
Backing: Traditional stick pin with a secure, removable end cap.
Year Estimate: Circa 1970s - 1980s.
Measurements: Heart head is approximately 0.75" wide; total pin length is 2.5".
Condition: Excellent vintage condition with a bright, lustrous finish.
Style: Retro, Romantic, Classic, Minimalist.

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Four small mother of pearl brooches, each one a different expression of the same luminous material. The set includes a carved MOP bar with an engraved botanical motif, a plain iridescent MOP bar in warm cream, a square MOP brooch with a clean unadorned face, and a slim silver-tone oval bar pin. Mother of pearl has been used in jewelry since antiquity, prized for the soft iridescence that shifts between cream, blush, and pale green depending on the light. They offer versatile styling options across necklines, scarves, and lapels.

Materials: Natural mother of pearl; silver-tone base metal 

Details:

• Era: c. 1920s–1960s, Early to Mid-Century
• Markings: None observed on any piece
• Style / design notes: (1) Carved MOP bar with engraved botanical/dragonfly motif, 1" × 0.2"; (2) Plain iridescent MOP bar, 1.9" × 0.3"; (3) Square MOP brooch, 0.6" × 0.6"; (4) Silver-tone slim oval bar pin, 1.1" × 0.1"
• Stone or material notes: Natural mother of pearl throughout; iridescent cream-white with blush and green flash
• Function: Brooches / bar pins
• Color: Cream, iridescent white, silver tone
• Condition: Vintage with wear and discoloration on the back/ metal sections of the brooches

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Description: A petite open-work bow in warm gold tone — each loop cut through with a delicate filigree pattern that keeps the piece light without diminishing its presence. The bow motif has a long history in jewelry, from 18th century sentiment pins to mid-century costume accessories, and this small version carries that tradition with quiet charm. Tack-back closure makes it easy to wear on a lapel, collar, knitwear, or pinned to a ribbon.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal

Details:

• Era: c. 1960s–1980s
• Markings: None observed
• Style / design notes: Open-work filigree bow form; tack-pin back with butterfly clutch
• Stone or material notes: No stones; all metal
• Function: Lapel / tack pin
• Color: Warm gold tone
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition

Measurement: 0.75" wide × 0.5" tall

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A fully pavé-set rose bouquet — every surface of the stem, bud, leaves, and ribbon tie covered in closely set round rhinestones, with baguette-cut accents placed in the leaves for structural contrast. The scale and construction point clearly to the 1940s–50s, when large, all-over rhinestone floral brooches were produced at their most ambitious. The pot metal setting has the slightly oxidized warmth characteristic of the era, adding depth beneath the stones rather than competing with them. A serious piece of mid-century costume jewelry.

Materials: Silver-tone / pot metal base; clear round and baguette rhinestones

A 

full-bloom rose on a thorned stem — the bloom itself built from finely crosshatched mesh that gives it a soft, textile-like depth, while the stem and leaves are cast in a smoother, matte gold tone for contrast. The combination of textures is the quiet sophistication of mid-century American costume jewelry at its best, echoing the naturalistic rose brooches produced by Giovanni, Monet, and their contemporaries. Elegant on a blazer lapel, a winter coat, or pinned to a scarf.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal

Details:

• Era: c. 1960s–1970s, Mid-Century American
  
• Style / design: Full-bloom rose with fine crosshatch mesh petals; cast stem with thorn detail; two textured leaves; naturalistic figural form
  
• Function: Brooch / pin
• Color: Warm gold tone
• Condition: Great vintage condition little wear on top of one petal
• Measurement: 1.74" wide × 2.5" tall

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A grounded form—quiet strength in profile.
This lion, cast in warm gold tone, carries a naturalistic stance with subtle texturing through the mane and body. The finish leans matte, allowing the contours to hold the light rather than reflect it.

Produced by Jonette Jewelry, a maker known for figural pieces with personality and detail.

Details

• Maker: JJ (Jonette Jewelry)

• Era: 1970s–1980s

• Material: Gold tone metal

• Color: Antiqued gold

• Design: Standing lion, figural

• Closure: Rollover safety clasp

Measurements

• Approx. 2.5" x 1.5"

Condition

Good vintage condition. Light surface wear and patina consistent with age. No structural issues. Clasp functions properly.

MISSING TWO RHINESTONES*

A deep cobalt field, softly domed, holds a structured floral spray in warm gold tone. Small rhinestones are set throughout the stems and blossoms, adding contrast and light.

Two stones are missing, leaving small openings within the composition. The form remains intact, with a balanced, mid-century silhouette.

Details

• Brand: Lisner

• Era: Mid-century (1950s–1960s)

• Material: Gold tone metal, glass cabochon, rhinestones

• Color: Blue, gold, clear

• Design: Floral spray on oval cabochon

• Closure: Rollover safety clasp

Measurements

• Approx. 1.25" x 1"

Condition

Good vintage condition with visible wear. Two rhinestones are missing. Light surface wear to metal and minor aging to stones. Clasp functions properly.

• Layered leaf form in gold tone metal, structured with openwork and set with marquise-cut clear rhinestones. The composition balances texture and light, with a brushed leaf overlay framing the faceted stones beneath.

  Signed BSK, a mid-century American costume jewelry maker active from the 1940s–1980s.

  Details

  • Brand: BSK

  • Era: Mid-century (circa 1960s–1970s)

  • Material: Gold tone metal

  • Stones: Clear marquise rhinestones

  • Design: Leaf / spray / openwork

  • Marking: Signed BSK

  • Closure: Rollover safety clasp

  Measurements

  • 2.5" x 2.75"

  Condition

  Very good vintage condition with minor surface wear consistent with age. Stones intact. Clasp secure.

A structured composition of looping gold tone ribbons, each edge traced in fine texture and set with clear rhinestones. The form gathers inward, creating depth and movement through layered arcs and openwork spacing.

Signed Lisner, a mid-century American costume jewelry maker known for dimensional, well-balanced designs.

Details

• Brand: Lisner

• Type: Brooch

• Era: Mid-century (circa 1950s–1960s)

• Material: Gold tone metal

• Stones: Clear rhinestones

• Design: Swirl / ribbon / openwork cluster

• Marking: Signed “Lisner” on reverse

• Closure: Rollover safety clasp

Measurements

• Approx. 1.5" diameter

• Condition

  Very good vintage condition. Light surface wear consistent with age. Rhinestones present and bright. Clasp functions properly.

   

A boldly cast torch with a high-polish flame and a finely ribbed handle — the kind of figural brooch that carried real symbolic weight in mid-century America, evoking liberty, knowledge, and illumination. The dimensional casting catches light dramatically, contrasting the smooth flame against a stippled cup collar. Small in scale but strong in presence; it pins well to a blazer or coat lapel and reads with quiet authority.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal

Details:

• Era: c. 1940s–1960s, Mid-Century American
  
• Style / design notes: Figural torch; dimensional cast flame with stippled cup; vertically ribbed tapering handle; high-polish finish
  
• Function: Brooch / pin
• Color: Bright gold tone
• Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear consistent with age

Measurement: 0.75" wide × 1.9" tall

Collected by Mineral and Matter

Six dimensional roses — each with a fine crosshatch-textured surface and a tightly furled center bud — arranged in an open wreath form that feels both structured and organic. A design aesthetic common to the late 1950s and early 1960s, when American costume jewelry makers elevated everyday metals into something quietly architectural. The hexagonal frame anchoring each bloom gives the piece a geometric backbone beneath all that bloom. Wears beautifully on a lapel, collar, or knitwear.

Materials: Gold-tone base metal

Details:

• Era: c. 1955–1965, Mid-Century
  
• Style / design notes: Six textured dimensional rose blooms in open wreath / circle formation; hexagonal inner frame; hinged pin back
  
• Function: Brooch / pin
• Color: Warm gold tone
• Condition: Great vintage condition

Measurement: 1" diameter

Collected by Mineral and Matter

The words Extra Special cut through a small rectangular gold-tone plaque in open block lettering — the kind of direct, self-assured sentiment that mid-century and early post-war novelty jewelry wore without irony. Stick pins of this type were pinned to lapels, hat bands, and scarves, a small declaration worn close to the body. Unsigned, as the vast majority of novelty stick pins were. A tiny, confident object with a lot of personality for its size.

DETAILS

Maker: Unsigned

Design: Open block letter "Extra Special" gold-tone plaque on stick pin; textured letter faces with polished border

Material: Gold-tone base metal

Era: 1970s–80s

Measurement: 2.25" stick; 0.75" wide pin top

Condition: Vintage with gentle surface wear consistent with age

Collected by Mineral and Matter

A white gardenia molded in raised relief against a deep forest green porcelain ground — the petals detailed enough to show their curl and overlap, the stem and leaves extending below in a single graceful line. The porcelain has the smooth, matte quality that separates it from pressed glass or resin, and the colors have held without fading. It sits in a gold-tone oval frame with a woven filigree border, a setting style common to quality porcelain brooch production of the 1960s and 1970s. Unsigned, as the majority of porcelain cameo brooches of this period were.

DETAILS

Maker: Unsigned

Design: White gardenia in raised relief on forest green porcelain ground; gold-tone woven filigree oval frame; pin back