Small Art Deco Silver Sapphire Paste Brooch

A dainty little Art Deco brooch in the form of a long thin bar with scalloped decoration along the sides, channel set with lovely old-cut blue and white pastes.

The French jeweller Georges Frédéric Strass invented “Paste" in 1724. True paste is crafted from a special leaded glass that was painstakingly cut and then polished by hand with metal powder until it appeared to shimmer like a diamond. It was an instant success with the chic upper classes of Parisian society and continues to be highly sought after today. Nowadays paste is often used as a generic term to describe costume gemstones.

SIZE: 4 x 0.2cm.

WEIGHT: 1.4g.

MATERIALS: 935 silver - a silver fineness higher than sterling silver (925). We most often see 935 on pieces from Germany, Austria and Switzerland c.1920s-40s, which absolutely fits with this piece.

HALLMARKS/STAMPS: Stamped 935 on the back.

CONDITION: In good vintage condition; the lines of the silver frame are a little wavy throughout, rather than dead straight. Fixes with a locking rollover clasp.

ERA: Art Deco c.1930.

Antique and vintage boxes photographed are for display only and are not included unless stated in the description.

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