Tourmaline and diamond brooch, Vever, Circa 1900

Designed as an open work stylised fuchsia set with circular-, single-cut and rose diamonds, later set with a marquise-shaped tourmaline, suspended from a fine fancy link chain, length approximately 435mm, signed Vever, Paris and numbered, French assay marks, accompanied by brooch, hair fittings and screw driver, fitted case, Vever, chain not illustrated.

Cf: Henri Vever, translated by Katherine Purcell, ‘French Jewellery of the Nineteenth Century’, London 2001, page 1189,
Cf: Ed. A. Kenneth Snowman, ‘The Master Jewelers’, London 1990, page 143 for similar designs by Vever

Necklace and pendant stamped with French assay marks for platinum. Pendant signed Vever, Paris. Numbered 2814 to suspension loop. Tourmaline possibly later added, mounted in gold, medium purplish pink, typical inclusions visible under magnification. Estimated total diamond weight approximately 1.50-2.00 carats, estimated colour H/I, estimated clarity VS - SI, some stones I. Pendant fitting detachable, can be changed to hair or brooch fitting using screwdriver. Some abrasions to mount consistent with age and wear. In good condition. Accompanied by fitted case signed Ane Mon Marret & Baugrand, Vever, 14 Rue De La Paix, Paris, Trois Grands Prix, Expositions Universelles 1889 - 1897 - 1900.
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Vever one of the leading French jewellery firms of the 19^th Century was founded in 1821 by Pierre Vever in Metz, moving to Paris in 1871. They exhibited at Moscow, Chicago, and Brussels winning a Grand Prix at the Paris International Exhibition in 1900. Henri Vever 1854-1942, Pierre’s grandson, was a renowned jewellery historian and author of the seminal work on 19^th Century jewellery, ‘La Bijouterie Francaise au XIXe siecle’ , published in 1908 of which the third volume covers the leading Art Nouveau jewellers of the period.