MONSTER BEETLE 1950 Retro Brooch In 14Kt & Sterling Silver With Gemstones
An American monster beetle from the mid-century period.
This is an art & craft brooch that we recently acquired in New York City from an important jewelry collection. This monster beetle was created in NYC, with naive and grotesque craftsmanship. Crafted with multiple parts made up in polished 14kt yellow gold and hammered .900/999 sterling silver. The beetle is fitted with four-wings similar to a big scarab and is embellished with twenty-six natural earth mined gemstones, such; a huge rutilated quartz, red rubies and blue aquamarines. It is fitted at the reverse with a hinged pin brooch and a mechanical security lock. To be honest from our side, this piece is so grotesque that is beautiful.
Rutile Quartz
Rutilated quartz is a variety of quartz which despite not being as 'pure' as more well-known quartz varieties, such as amethyst, are valued for their 'inclusions'. These inclusions are needle-like strands which are often reddish or golden in appearance and it is these 'rutiles' from which the name derives. The inclusions may be distributed randomly or in bundles, which sometimes are arranged star-like, and they can be sparse or dense enough to make the quartz body nearly opaque. While otherwise inclusions often reduce the value of a crystal, rutilated quartz is valued for the quality of these inclusions.
Country: New York City, United States.
Period: Mid-Century Modern, 1950.
Rubies: Mounted in inlaid settings, with 22 round faceted cut rubies, with a total weight of about 1.32 carats.
Aquamarines: Mount in prongs settings, with 3 oval faceted cut aquamarines of different sizes, with a combined weight of about 38.75 carats.
Rutilated Quartz: Mount in prongs settings, with 1 pear shape cabochon cut (38 x 45 x 22 mm) carved from a huge natural Brazilian rutilated quartz, with an estimate weight of about 292 carats, calculated by formula.
Birthstone: Aquamarine for the month of March and rutile quartz for April.
Weight: 90.2 Grams, (57.82 Dwt).
Measurements: 89 mm by 66 mm by 42 mm (3.5 x 2.60 x 1.62 Inches).
Hallmarks: Unmarked, but electronically tested for 14kt gold and sterling silver with results as follows; ".585/.999 Au, .900/.999 Ar."
Collateral: This Monster beetle brooch is accompanied by a presentation jewelry box.
Condition: The overall condition of this Monster beetle brooch is excellent. Besides the little normal wear, there is no damage and the 26 gemstones are secured in the settings. This brooch has been carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and authenticity.
INVENTORY REF: P052825GONM/1.445
