Vintage Aurora Borealis Starburst Brooch

This item is a starburst-style costume jewelry brooch, likely dating from the mid-20th century, specifically the 1950s or 1960s. The piece features a complex, multi-tiered floral or sunburst arrangement consisting of numerous round-cut stones. These stones are finished with an Aurora Borealis (AB) coating, which gives them an iridescent shimmer that reflects a rainbow of colors, primarily blues, pinks, and yellows. The metal setting appears to be silver-tone rhodium-plated base metal, which was common for high-quality costume jewelry of that era to prevent tarnishing. The piece displays a spray layout with branching 'stems' tipped with smaller AB rhinestones and interspersed with textured metal leaf motifs. In terms of condition, the stones appear mostly intact and clear, though some minor glue residue or 'graying' typical of aging foil-backed stones may be present. The construction utilizes prong settings for the central larger stones and bead/glue settings for the smaller accents. There are no visible maker's marks from this angle, but the complexity of the design suggests a reputable costume jewelry house from the period. The refraction and 'fire' within the stones indicate they are likely glass crystals rather than plastic resin.