Lot of 3 Vintage Skeleton Key Brooches

This lot consists of three vintage skeleton key brooches, varying in size from 1 3/4” to 2 1/2”. All three pieces exhibit a gold-tone finish, though one key also incorporates silver-tone elements. The brooches are designed as decorative interpretations of antique skeleton keys, each featuring a pin-back clasp mechanism on the reverse for attachment to clothing. The first key, appearing entirely gold-toned, has a rococo-style bow with intricate scrollwork and a simple shaft leading to an ornate bit. The second key is bi-metallic, predominantly silver-tone for the shaft and bit, but with a gold-tone bow. This key's shaft is adorned with a floral or foliate motif in relief, suggesting a more decorative origin. Furthermore, its bit features three horizontally set rectangular red gemstones, possibly garnets or colored glass, enhancing its visual appeal. The most distinctive piece in the collection is the third key, which features a prominent circular setting containing a red intaglio depicting the profile of a Roman emperor. This intaglio is encircled by a gold-tone bezel, adding a touch of classic antiquity to the piece. The body of this key is gold-toned, complementing the intaglio. Given the 'vintage' designation and the design elements such as the intaglio and decorative motifs, these brooches likely date from the mid-20th century. While the overall condition appears good with potential for minor surface wear consistent with age, specific details such as manufacturer's marks or material composition (e.g., gold content vs. plating) are not discernible from the provided images. The craftsmanship suggests commercially produced costume jewelry of reasonable quality for its era.

Upon examining the provided images and description, this lot consists of three vintage skeleton key brooches, dating approximately to the mid-20th century. The brooches range in size from 1 3/4” to 2 1/2” and are constructed from base metal with a gold-tone finish, with one piece incorporating silver-tone accents. The overall condition appears to be good for their age, showing typical signs of wear but no significant damage. The craftsmanship is consistent with commercially produced costume jewelry from that era. Key value-driving elements include the varied designs: one with rococo-style scrollwork, another bi-metallic piece with red stone accents (likely glass or paste), and the most notable featuring a red glass intaglio of a Roman soldier profile. These pieces are not considered rare, as skeleton key motifs were a popular theme in vintage costume jewelry. The market for such items is steady among collectors of novelty vintage pins. Comparables from brands like Napier, Coro, or unmarked pieces of similar style and period typically sell in the range of $15 to $25 each. The intaglio piece may command a slightly higher price within that range due to its distinctive classical design. The collective value reflects the lot as a whole. A significant limitation of this appraisal is that it is based solely on images. An in-person examination would be required to test the metals for any gold content (though plating is assumed), identify the red stones, and search for any maker's marks that could significantly alter the value. Without physical inspection, I cannot confirm the materials or definitively attribute them to a specific designer.