Dorera by Michelle Ong Diamond Gold Bat Brooches

A faceted Morganite, diamond and 18 karat gold brooch, by John Donald, 1972. The brooch is stamped with maker's mark JAD, and dated with London hallmarks. John Donald is a designer...

A collectible gilt-bronze brooch showing a sunlit lion was designed by pioneering French woman jeweler Line Vautrin, France, circa 1945. It is a small but mighty piece weighing 27.72 grams and signed “LV.” Vautrin’s brooch makes the perfect gift for a partner or a unique addition to an artist’s jewelry aficionado’s collection. Born into a family of metal founders, even as a small child Line Vautrin (1913-1997) was fascinated by her father’s business. She never received a formal art education, but by the time she was 14, she had mastered the skills of casting, chasing, and gilding bronze. At 15, she hit upon the novel concept of making artistic jewelry in gilt metal. She began to sell pieces almost immediately; Vautrin devoted herself to experimentation with new materials then and, indeed, throughout her career but remained committed to bronze. In a time when few women played such a role, she was a pioneering craftswoman known for highly original jewelry enveloped in wordplay and symbology. The turning point came when she hired a stand at the Paris International Exposition...