Santa Hat Brooch Appraisal

Vintage Gold-Tone Christmas Owl Brooch with Santa Hat

This is a vintage gold-tone costume jewelry brooch depicting a stylized owl perched on a branch, accessorized with a festive Santa Claus-style hat. The piece is constructed from a cast base metal with a bright yellow-gold finish that features a variety of textures: a fine brushed finish on the face to mimic feathers, a cross-hatched scales pattern on the chest, and linear striations on the branch. The owl's eyes are set with two faceted green rhinestones that provide a sharp color contrast. The Santa hat is accented with a translucent red cold enamel or epoxy resin, topped with a textured gold-tone pom-pom. Based on the construction style and the use of textured gold plating, this item likely dates between the 1960s and 1980s, a period when novelty holiday brooches were highly popular. The condition appears to be good with some visible wear to the gold plating on the raised edges of the branch and feet, revealing a slight dulling of the finish. No signature is visible from the front, but pieces of this style were commonly produced by mid-century costume jewelry manufacturers such as Gerry's or JJ (Jonette Jewelry). The craftsmanship is characteristic of mass-market vintage novelty jewelry, prioritizing whimsical design and sturdy assembly.