Fruit Cluster Brooch Appraisal

Vintage Celluloid and Glass Fruit Cluster Brooch

This is a vintage costume jewelry brooch designed with a harvest or botanical motif. The piece features a horizontal metal bar or 'branch' base, likely made of brass or gold-toned base metal, exhibiting a visible aged patina and some surface oxidation. Adorned onto this frame is a cluster of faceted cherry-red to amber-colored glass beads, intended to mimic berries or grapes. Interspersed with the glass elements are small faux pearls with a silvery-white luster and a single prominent, molded leaf component. This leaf appears to be made of early plastic, specifically celluloid or Bakelite, given its opaque, brownish-orange color and matte texture. The construction utilizes wire-wrapping to secure the decorative elements to the pin bar. Regarding condition, there is noticeable wear to the metal finish and some minor surface abrasions on the glass beads. The pinstem and C-clasp on the reverse show signs of use, consistent with an item from the mid-20th century, likely dating between the 1930s and 1950s. The craftsmanship is typical of high-quality mass-produced costume jewelry of the era, where hand-assembly was required to wire the various components together into a cohesive fruit spray design.