Brooches
Leopards 🐆
Leopard 🐆 brooches
I started collecting leopard brooches about 15 years ago. I was inspired by Cartier and the history of cat brooches.
Final touch
The above picture shows off my beautiful chunky leopard 🐆 bracelet with a vintage Portobello brooch.
Cartier 1914 where it all began
Jeanne Toussaint
Jeanne Toussaint
Appointed Cartier’s Artistic Director of Jewellery in 1933, she was nicknamed “La Panthere” by Louis Cartier.
”Emeralds onyx diamonds, a brooch” is quoted when on safari and spotting a panther.
Royal connection
In 1947 the Duke of Windsor asked Cartier to create a three dimensional panther brooch for his wife. With the help of Peter Lemarchland they created the first feline for her..A year later the diamond and onyx mounted in platinum resting on a 152 carat sapphire cabochon also three dimensional ( pictured below) was added to her collection.
April 1987
Following the death of the Duchess, her jewels were sold at auction by Sotheby’s in Geneva raising $50.3 million for the Pasteur Institute in France.
Picture Sotheby’s
vintage leopard 🐆
Bracelet 🐆
Vintage chunky Kenneth Jay Lane
Mix it up
Old and new dressing up cashmere with vintage jewels and new season Dior.
Sentimental brooches
This brooch was given to Wallis Simpson in 1935 by the then Prince of Wales. The design is the Royal Symbol of status. Made by Van Cleef & Arpels it is constructed using an invisible setting of platinum and 18k gold.
Southeby
Jewels
The trio of feathers are gathered together in a Crown featuring rubies and baguette diamonds.
In April 1987 Elizabeth Taylor purchased the brooch from the Southeby auction paying $623,000. The actress had always admired the brooch and the Wales connection to Richard Burton inspired the actress to bid.
When Elizabeth died the brooch
was auctioned again in 2011 selling for $1,314,500
The Queen
Richmond brooch
In April 2021 the Queen wore her most sentimental brooch for the funeral of her husband Prince Philip.The stunning diamond brooch is one of the Queens favourite heirlooms a gift from her grandmother.
The jewels
Made by Hunt and Raskell the brooch is diamond set with two pearls a large one in the centre. The pearl hanging is removable allowing for attachment to a necklace.
Royal jewels
Happier times
worn for the wedding of Harry & Meghan and for the 2014 and 2018 festival of remembrance
Images Daily Mail
The history
Queen Mary
The brooch had been a wedding gift in 1893 for Queen Mary from the town of Richmond and was worn on the royal honeymoon. Queen Elizabeth 2nd inherited the brooch from her grandmother in 1953 and she first wore it overseas at the opening of Parliament in New South Wales in 1954.
Hello magazine images
Lady Gaga
Inauguration brooch
When Lady Gaga belted out the National Anthem in January for Joe Biden’s inauguration all eyes fell upon her stunning Schiaparelli outfit. However nobody could fail to notice the gold brooch attached.
The brooch
The design featuring a gold dove carrying an olive branch complimented the stars gold microphone, designed by Schiaparelli its symbol and meaning post afterwards on her Twitter account
“May we all make peace with each other”
The quickest way to dress up an outfit
Vintage animal
From bees to frogs. I love to collect vintage animal brooches the spider in the middle makes a fab turban accessory.
My man
This brooch was gifted to me and I wear it on large lapels it’s absolutely stunning and unusual
Drawing attention
Masculine
A Portobello market morning wearing my husband’s jackets but softening the look with brooches and drawing attention to the pocket.
Feminine
Vertigo and Kim Novak are my inspiration for this look the dress is a very low cut charcoal plain design but lifted to a stunning look
Most of my brooches are from charity shops or vintage markets, I very rarely pay more than about £10 unless they are of exceptional quality.
I pin brooches on lapels of coats or to dress up cashmere and of course on my huge collection of flat caps…they are a great way of also drawing attention to another part of an outfit.
How do I store my brooches…well of course somewhere I can grab them as I dress ..a place I see them clearly and admire them …on a lamp shade. And when it lights up, the room sparkles with diamonds and colours.
