Posted 10 years ago
Betty1978
(58 items)
I found this lovely little brooch in a yard-sale last weekend... It is probably a portrait of St. Fabiola (although she is usually depicted with a red veil - unless this is Virgin Mary...). It is made of Limoges enamel and it is unsigned. It has a diamond-shaped hallmark at the back and a trombone clasp.
It is 1' diameter.
If anyone has more info about it, please let me know! :)
Hi Betty!
A pic of the back should help too to see the kind of trombone clasp and mark...
Marcassites like these were mainly used in 20'/30'
From they are high on the mount, I suspect they're stuck, not set, so, rather '30 in my opinion.
Thanks very much kyratango! Sure, I'll take a few more pics as soon as soon as my camera is fixed! I had to take this one with my cellphone and it's really not good...
This is very beautiful!
I thought I saw this portrait posted here before, was of a saint, not the Virgin Mary, as I recall.
Thank you Elisabethan!
Yes katherinescollections, that's why I think it might as well be Holy Fabiola... ;)
Yes, St. Fabiola.
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/150574-saint-fabiolaearly-xx-century?in=loved-by-katherinescollections
There are many versions, as can be seen here.
http://tinyurl.com/o6gt38w
Very interesting, thank you! Indeed, this lady definitely evokes Saint Fabiola, although the latter traditionally wears a red veil.
A famous painting of Saint Fabiola which was painted in 1885 by Jean-Jacques Henner. It depicts the saint in a classical pose with head and shoulders cloaked in a red veil. While the original painting is lost, it has been reproduced countless times also in a lot of jewelry.The saint is considered the patron of women in difficult or abusive relationships and divorced women.
I like your brooch very much. And yes it looks a lot like mine. the trombone clasp was used in jewelry at the end of the 19th century and continued to be used in Europe through the 1940's. So you have an indication in dating your brooch. Is there a signature on the back perhaps?
Thank you so much for all these precisions, Agram.m ! The brooch is unsigned, but there is a losange-shaped hallmark at the back (indicating this is silver?). I'll take more pictures soon to show you...
Goodnight! :)
Yes I have a painting post few weeks ago, I believe you right this St-Fabiola.
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/150574-saint-fabiolaearly-xx-century
I love it
Alan
Thanks Alan! I love your painting too... :)
You are very welcome.Thank you for the love(painting).
Alan
Hi there! I'm back with my camera and new pictures of the brooch. Looking closer at the back, I noticed there is a depiction of the Grotto of Lourdes in the little blue medallion. You can also see a hallmark (silver hallmark?) at the top. Does the clasp and hallmark tell us more about this brooch?