Featured Pietra Dura Chickens Brooch

Found this rather different silver pietra dura brooch and had to pick it up. They're just so cute and dorky looking.



I can find a similar image in larger framed plaques (one attributed to around 1890-1900), but none in brooches. Few birds in general; florals of course being the most popular subject.



No markings that I can find. I can't tell if the pin is original or replaced, but it looks pretty cleanly set.



Obviously I need to give it a clean and a polish but I am thinking soaking should be avoided as I don't know how the inlay is affixed. Size is 2 1/8" x 1 5/8".

Any thoughts welcome!

 

My thoughts... It's absolutely charming.

Debora

 

Good lookin' couple of birds...chickens are a favorite of mine!
Great pics, too...thanks!

 

Adorable. I get a Mexican vibe .

 

Thank you!

My husband is teasing me that now I'm starting a chicken collection...something some of the other ladies in my family have done. Whoops. Thanks on the pics...just a cool-colored led lamp, muslin and a 5-yr-old phone with a bit of photo app adjustment.

I can see why you say that! Seems to be a standard Italian pietra dura from what I've found in similar theme. Some are marked with their Italian artisans, like this plaque.

 

How cute are they !!!
Sure, I would begin a chicken collection after that find
I agree soaking may be risky but a little brusking with soapy tepid water can't harm. The black stone may benefit from wood polish after cleaning.

 

What a find! Its a beauty.
These plaquettes where brought back as souvenirs from Italy. These make excellent souvenirs: tiny and not heavy to carry when you are making a Grand Tour.
They were often bought as plaquettes and at home brought to the jeweler to be set as brooches/ pendants/earrings...
Or not.
You can find them without findings almost more often than with the findings.
So my thought is the plaquette might be older than the brooch itself.

But thats just my opinion.

anyhow, birds and chickens in particular are very collectible.
So, well done!

 

So sweet. And I'm with those who said Italian pietra dura.
The way it is set makes it look like a miniature painting, a nice idea. The setting is ca 1920. The wee plaque could be older, as my neighbour Dessert said.

Ditto.

 

Agreed, a twenties back. There’s some nice pietra dura coming from India, too, but this does look Italian.

 

Agree, nice find!

 

Love love love! So cute.

 

I have cleaned the chickens!



When tilted you can see sparkles in the black background and the clear quartz depth and gold flecks in the rooster.


The mounting was definitely hand-made but now that it's clean you can really see the hammering from the process.

 

I love them even more! Those are some snazzy chickens. Great job getting them sparkly.

 

Looks wonderful!

 

Looks great!!!!!