Butterfly Brooch Appraisal

Vintage Rhinestone Butterfly Brooch

This item is a vintage-style butterfly brooch, prominently featuring a silver-tone metal setting adorned with numerous clear rhinestones. The butterfly wings are intricately designed with various cuts of rhinestones, including round brilliant cuts, baguette cuts, and a prominent marquise or tear-drop shaped stone in the lower center of each wing. The central body of the butterfly appears to be composed of a large, round brilliant faceted stone. All stones are prong-set, with many of the smaller round stones exhibiting a darker, possibly tarnished, appearance to their settings or the metal underneath, suggesting age and potential wear. The overall dimensions are difficult to ascertain without a scale, but it appears to be a medium-sized piece suitable as a lapel or dress pin. The metal shows some dark patina in the crevices around the stones, which is consistent with age and could be either tarnish or residue from past use. There are no visible chips or significant damage to the rhinestones, though their brilliance may be dulled by surface dirt or age. The construction appears sturdy, indicative of mid-20th century costume jewelry. No maker's marks or signatures are discernable from the provided image. The design's intricate stone placement and varied cuts suggest a higher quality of costume jewelry for its period, likely mid-century (1940s-1960s) due to the style of rhinestones and setting techniques. Its overall appearance is elegant and sparkly, designed to emulate fine diamond jewelry.