Filigree Brooch Appraisal

Vintage Silver Filigree Cameo Brooch

This is a vintage brooch featuring a central cameo element within an ornate silver-toned setting. The overall shape of the brooch is star-like or floral, with eight distinct lobes. The central cameo consists of a raised, silvertone profile of a woman's head and shoulders, facing right, set against a smooth, oval-shaped cabochon of a light teal or robin's egg blue color. The woman's hair appears intricately styled, and she wears what might be a crown or elaborate headpiece. Surrounding the central cameo bezel is a double border of small, spherical beads, giving it a textural, granular appearance. The outer frame of the brooch is crafted in an openwork filigree style, featuring curly, scroll-like motifs that form the eight lobes. The metal appears to be a tarnished silver or silver-plated alloy, exhibiting a dark patina in the recessed areas which accentuates the filigree details. The reverse side of the brooch, visible in one of the provided images, shows a standard pin clasp mechanism. While the specific material of the blue cabochon isn't identifiable from the image alone (could be glass, resin, or a semiprecious stone like turquoise or chrysoprase), its smooth finish suggests a polished material. The 'vintage' designation in the provided text suggests an age of at least 20-100 years. The craftsmanship appears to be commercially produced, with good attention to detail in the filigree and beaded borders, indicating a moderate to good quality piece of costume or novelty jewelry for its period. No visible damage or repairs are immediately apparent, though the aging and slight wear are consistent with its suggested vintage status.