Vintage Sterling Silver Cats Eye & Marcasite Brooch#142

Vintage Sterling Silver Cats Eye & Marcasite Brooch
No box

About this piece

A striking openwork brooch in sterling silver, centred on a luminous cat’s eye cabochon stone that displays the characteristic milky shimmer and play of light the stone is prized for. The eight-petalled flower design is richly detailed with marcasite — pyrite crystals that catch the light across the pierced metalwork — lending an intricate, almost lace-like quality to the piece. The contrast between the gleaming stone and the darker sparkle of the marcasite creates considerable visual depth.

The brooch wears very well, with good metal definition and lustre throughout. The pin and catch are secure and functional. Sterling silver marked examples like this are typically mid-twentieth century in style, though the cat’s eye and marcasite combination remained popular well into later decades. It would sit handsomely on a collar, jacket lapel or coat, and pairs naturally with period dress or contemporary styling that draws on vintage jewellery.