Vintage Camellia Flower Brooch with Rhinestone Pavé Center
Jewelry (Brooch/Pin) · Likely a Mid-Century costume jewelry manufacturer like Trifari, Coro, or Lisner, though the heavy wear suggests a mass-produced boutique or high-street accessory from the 1950s-70s.
Pattern: Botanical series; specific Camellia floral design modeled after the classic French Chanel aesthetic.
Type
Jewelry (Brooch/Pin)
Maker
Likely a Mid-Century costume jewelry manufacturer like Trifari, Coro, or Lisner, though the heavy wear suggests a mass-produced boutique or high-street accessory from the 1950s-70s.
Material
Base metal casting (likely pot metal or zinc alloy) with a worn white enamel or silver-toned electroplate; the center features glass rhinestones or 'chatons'.
Dimensions
Estimated at 5.5 cm to 6.5 cm in diameter; weight approximately 25-35 grams due to the heavy cast nature of the petals.
Description
This vintage floral brooch depicts a blooming camellia or gardenia. It features layered, scalloped petals that curve inward toward a glittering center of pavé-set rhinestones. While the piece mimics the elegance of fine silversmithing or high-fashion house designs, the heavy surface degradation reveals it to be an accessible piece of mid-century costume jewelry intended for daily adornment on coats or lapels.
Key Features
Multi-layered three-dimensional petal construction, textured petal edges, and a central 'stamen' cluster of faceted stones.
Material & Composition
Base metal casting (likely pot metal or zinc alloy) with a worn white enamel or silver-toned electroplate; the center features glass rhinestones or 'chatons'.
Finish & Decoration
Originally finished with a matte or pearlescent white enameling over a plated base, intended to simulate flower petals. The center stamen is decorated with a pavé-set cluster of clear rhinestones.
Hallmarks & Stamps
None visible in the primary image; usually located on the reverse on a cartouche or the pin stem. Likely lacks a silver purity hallmark (sterling/925) due to visible base metal show-through.
Construction Details
Cast metal construction with multiple layers of layered petals soldered or riveted together. The center rhinestone cluster is a separate cast element set into the flower head.
Functional Features
Reverse likely contains a pinstem with a rolling safety c-clasp or a simple trombone clasp.
Handle & Grip Details
N/A (Wearable Jewelry)
Craftsmanship Details
Machine-cast components with hand-set stones; the plating was applied via dipping. The visible pits and casting lines indicate a mass-market production standard.
Authentication Indicators
The chipping pattern reveals a non-precious base metal, confirming this is costume jewelry rather than solid sterling silver. The uneven finish suggests it was electroplated.
Origin & Manufacturing
Likely United States or Western Europe (West Germany was a prolific producer of this style) using mass-production casting and plating techniques.
Era & Period
Mid-Century Modern (1950s-1960s) - characterized by the popularity of large figurative floral brooches in daytime and evening wear.
Age Estimate
Circa 1955-1965 based on the style of the rhinestone setting and the thickness of the petal edges.
Cultural Significance
Represents the democratization of fashion in the mid-20th century, where 'high-look' jewelry was manufactured at price points accessible to the middle-class professional woman.
Condition Notes
Fair to Poor condition. Significant loss of the white enamel/plating (chipping and peeling) is visible along the edges and surfaces of the petals, exposing a dark grey base metal. Some rhinestones appear yellowed or 'dead' due to moisture damage to the foil backing.
Value Estimate
$10 - $25 USD. The value is strictly decorative/vintage appeal; the heavy condition issues significantly limit collector value compared to mint-condition signed pieces.
Care & Maintenance
Avoid all liquid cleaners or silver dips as they will destroy the remaining plating and foil behind the stones. Use a dry microfiber cloth only. Store away from humidity to prevent further 'bronzing' of the stones.
Similar Pieces
Trifari 'Pat. Pend' floral brooches (higher quality), Coro floral pins, or contemporary Chanel costume jewelry (which uses higher-grade poured glass/pâte de verre).
Interesting Facts
Large camellia brooches became a fashion icon largely due to Coco Chanel, who made the white camellia her signature flower in the 1920s, sparking decades of imitators in the jewelry market.