Vintage Sterling Brooch
Mid-20th Century Danish Contemporary Vintage Sterling Brooch
Onyx, Sterling Silver
1950s American Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1960s American Modernist Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
20th Century North American Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
20th Century Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1940s American Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver, Rhodium
1990s Unknown Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver, Gold Plate
1940s German Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Retro Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1980s American Vintage Sterling Brooch
Freshwater Pearl, Brass, Sterling Silver
1940s American Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver, Vermeil
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Sterling Brooch
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
20th Century Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
20th Century Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
20th Century Danish Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1990s Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1980s Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
20th Century Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
20th Century Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1980s Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1990s Mexican Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1950s American Modernist Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
20th Century North American Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
20th Century Canadian Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1960s Danish Art Nouveau Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1940s American Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1980s American Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Vintage Sterling Brooch
Agate, Sterling Silver
1970s British Vintage Sterling Brooch
Citrine, Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Vintage Sterling Brooch
Lapis Lazuli, Sterling Silver
1980s American Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Hong Kong Modern Vintage Sterling Brooch
Pearl, Sterling Silver
20th Century Vintage Sterling Brooch
Carnelian, Sterling Silver
20th Century Vintage Sterling Brooch
Citrine, Sterling Silver
20th Century Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Native American Vintage Sterling Brooch
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
1940s Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
20th Century Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1950s Danish Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1980s American Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver, Gold Plate
1950s Swedish Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1950s Mexican Modernist Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Danish Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1990s Japanese Vintage Sterling Brooch
Pearl, Sterling Silver
1950s Danish Vintage Sterling Brooch
Amethyst, Sterling Silver
1980s Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1950s American Modernist Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1980s American Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver, Enamel
1960s American Modernist Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver, Brass
1990s Japanese Vintage Sterling Brooch
Pearl, Sterling Silver
1980s American Modernist Vintage Sterling Brooch
14k Gold, Sterling Silver
20th Century Scottish Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1950s Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Sterling Brooch
Sterling Silver
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Vintage Sterling Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Vintage Sterling Brooch?
Finding the Right Brooches for You
Vintage brooches, which refer to decorative jewelry traditionally pinned to garments and used to fasten pieces of clothing together where needed, have seen increasing popularity in recent years.
While jewelry trends come and go, brooches are indeed back on the radar thanks to fashion houses like Gucci, Versace, Dior and Saint Laurent, all of which feature fun pinnable designs in their current collections. Whether a dazzlingly naturalistic Art Nouveau dragonfly, a whimsical David Webb animal, a gem-studded bloom or a streamlined abstract design, these jewels add color and sparkle to your look and a spring to your step.
Given their long history, brooches have expectedly taken on a variety of different shapes and forms over time, with jewelers turning to assorted methods of ornamentation for these accessories, including enameling and the integration of pearls and gemstones. Cameo brooches that originated during the Victorian age are characterized by a shell carved in raised relief that feature portraits of a woman’s profile, while 19th-century micromosaic brooches, comprising innumerable individually placed glass fragments, sometimes feature miniature depictions of a pastoral scene in daily Roman life.
At one time, brooches were symbols of wealth, made primarily from the finest metals and showcasing exquisite precious gemstones. Today, these jewels are inclusive and universal, and you don’t have to travel very far to find an admirer of brooches. They can be richly geometric in form, such as the ornate diamond pins dating from the Art Deco era, or designer-specific, such as the celebrated naturalistic works created by Tiffany Co., the milk glass and gold confections crafted by Trifari or handmade vintage Chanel brooches of silk or laminated sheer fabric. Chanel, of course, has never abandoned this style, producing gorgeously baroque CC examples since the 1980s.
Brooches are versatile and adaptable. These decorative accessories can be worn in your hair, on hats, scarves and on the lower point of V-neck clothing. Pin a dazzling brooch to the lapel of your blazer-and-tee combo or add a cluster of smaller pins to your overcoat. And while brooches have their place in “mourning jewelry,” in that a mourning brooch is representative of your connection to a lost loved one, they’re widely seen as romantic and symbolic of love, so much so that a hardcore brooch enthusiast might advocate for brooches to be worn over the heart.
Today, find a wide variety of antique and vintage brooches for sale on 1stDibs, including gold brooches, sapphire brooches and more.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 17, 2023To tell if a brooch is vintage, take a look at its fastener. Pieces made during the first half of the 20th century often had a long thin fastener that you push to open or close. This style of hardware is commonly known as a trombone clasp. Locking safety clasps emerged during the 1930s, and jewelers used them throughout the rest of the 20th century. You can also check brooches for a date stamp or research the maker's mark to determine who produced it. Then, consult trusted online resources to determine the age. Alternatively, you can have a certified appraiser or professional jeweler examine the piece. On 1stDibs, find a variety of brooches from some of the world's top sellers.
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024To identify vintage brooches, look for the maker's marks. You can usually find them on the backs of brooches. Take a photo of the marking on your brooch, and then conduct a reverse image search to learn who the maker is. If you're unsuccessful, research the marks using trusted online resources or consult a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antiques dealer. Shop a diverse assortment of vintage brooches on 1stDibs.
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