Mid-Century Modernist Cubist Face Brooch

This item is a highly stylistic, modernist brooch depicting a human face in a cubist or abstract manner. The piece is constructed from silver-toned metal, likely sterling silver or a high-quality costume alloy, featuring a wireframe outline that defines the head and a prominent ear. The interior elements use geometric shapes to represent facial features: a textured triangular nose, a cog-like sunburst for one eye set with a small clear crystal or rhinestone, an rectangular ribbed element for the other eye, and a curved, concave disk to suggest the mouth. The metal showcases varied finishes, including smooth polished surfaces, stippled pointillism on part of the nose, and a braided or notched texture along the brow line. This eclectic mix of textures and shapes is characteristic of the 1950s-1960s Modernist jewelry movement, which drew inspiration from Fine Art movements like Surrealism and Cubism. The condition appears fair to good; there is visible tarnishing and a greenish oxidation (verdigris) typical of aged silver or copper-based alloys, especially near the lower curves. The pin mechanism is visible on the reverse, indicating a horizontal orientation. No maker's marks are immediately visible in the forward-facing image, but the artisanal construction suggests a studio piece or a designer boutique item from the mid-20th century.