Mellerio Retro Yellow and White 18k Gold Diamond Ruby Brooch
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:Gold
- Stone:Diamond,Ruby
- Stone Cut:Mixed Cut
- Weight:21 g
- Dimensions:Width: 1.38 in (35.06 mm)Length: 1.25 in (31.75 mm)
- Place of Origin:France
- Period:Mid-20th Century
- Date of Manufacture:Mid-20th Century
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Beverly Hills, CA
- Reference Number:
Mellerio dits Meller
With a history spanning more than 400 years, Mellerio dits Meller is officially the oldest jewelry house in France. Known for their timeless and exquisite bracelets, rings, objets d'art and other goods, Mellerio has counted the likes of Queen Victoria, Marie-Antoinette, Marie de' Medici and other historically important figures as clients.
Mellerio’s story began in 1613 with members of the Mellerio family — descendants of Italian immigrants — who worked as goldsmiths in Paris. During the late 18th century, Jean-Baptiste Mellerio (1765-1850) sold his jewelry and trinkets in town fairs and near royal residences around France. Outside of the Palace of Versailles, his finely crafted jewelry caught the eye of Marie-Antoinette, who reportedly bought a bracelet featuring seven cameos surrounded by rubies.
Marie-Antoinette’s patronage helped broaden Mellerio’s reach as a jeweler for many French nobles and aristocrats, and, in 1796, he opened a store at 20 Rue Vivienne in Paris. In 1800, the business relocated to the Rue du Coq St. Honoré near the Tuileries Palace and, in 1832, moved again to 9 Rue de la Paix.
Today, Mellerio is owned and operated by the 15th generation of the Mellerio family. From their workshop above their historic boutique at 9 Rue de la Paix, they specialize in creating jewelry in styles such as Art Nouveau and Art Deco that is set with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and more.
Among Mellerio’s most coveted pieces are its decorative boxes and cases, gold and silver-gilt figurines and sculptures, dazzling bands and engagement rings. Their fine jewelry collection also features an impeccable array of bracelets, necklaces, earrings and a range of watches.
Throughout Mellerio’s illustrious history, the house has participated in numerous exhibitions, including the World Exhibitions in London in 1862, Paris in 1867, Vienna in 1873 and again in Paris in 1878 and 1900. Mellerio exhibited at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in 1925, which brought Art Deco to a global stage, and the New York World’s Fair in 1939.
Mellerio dits Meller continues its long-standing legacy as one of the world’s finest jewelers, attracting royalty, celebrities and discerning collectors of luxury adornments.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of antique and vintage Mellerio dits Meller jewelry and objets d’art and vertu.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Beverly Hills, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- French Vintage Turtle Brooch 18k Gold RubyLocated in Beverly Hills, CAA cute French vintage turtle brooch made of 18k gold, features ruby. This amazing pin was meticulously made by skillfully applying multiple goldsmith te...Category
Vintage 1970s French Brooches
MaterialsRuby, Gold, 18k Gold
- Vintage Bulgari 18K Yellow Gold, Citrine, Pearl & Diamond Pin BroochBy BulgariLocated in Beverly Hills, CA- 18 karat yellow gold - 13.48 carat of square cut citrine - 0.18 carat of round brilliant cut diamond - 5- 7.5mm of white round cultured pearls - D...Category
Late 20th Century Brooches
MaterialsCitrine, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Vintage Yellow Gold Oval Link Chain Necklace w/ Pendant & BroochLocated in Beverly Hills, CAProduct details: The necklace and the brooch made out of 18 karat yellow gold, featuring textured finish and floral motif. The necklace is 34 inches long and 5/16 inches wide. The ...Category
Late 20th Century Chain Necklaces
Materials18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Vintage David Webb Diamond & Enamel Bow Ribbon Pin BroochBy David WebbLocated in Beverly Hills, CA- 18 karat yellow gold - 900 platinum - 2.50 carat of round brilliant cut diamonds - Blue and green enamel - Double clip - Comes with certificate of authenticity - Style number: 091...Category
20th Century Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Enamel
- Vintage Parrot Brooch 14k Gold Diamond EnamelLocated in Beverly Hills, CACIRCA: 1970s MATERIALS: 14k Yellow Gold GEMSTONE: Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds WEIGHT: 12.2 grams MEASUREMENTS: 1 1/4” x 5/8” HALLMARKS: 14K A colorful vintage parrot brooch...Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, 14k Gold, Enamel
- Vintage French Set Coral Earrings Brooch 18k GoldLocated in Beverly Hills, CAA beautiful vintage French set consisting of the brooch and earrings, made of coral and 18k gold. The set of botanical design includes the grape cluster earrings and the brooch. The...Category
Vintage 1970s French Brooches
MaterialsCoral, 18k Gold
- Vintage Ruby Onyx and Diamond Classic Car BroochLocated in London, GBHere we have a superb vintage brooch. The piece has been crafted from 18ct yellow gold into the shape of a classic car from the 1930s. Automobiles of the 1930s exhibited many notable...Category
Vintage 1930s Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Onyx, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
- Marcus & Co. Sapphire and Diamond Bow Brooch, American, circa 1935Located in London, GBSapphire and diamond bow brooch by Marcus & Co, American, circa 1935. A yellow gold and platinum bow form brooch set with one central row of twenty eig...Category
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Sapphire, Platinum
- John Brogden Shell Cameo Brooch and Earrings, English, circa 1870By John BrogdenLocated in London, GBAntique shell cameo brooch and earrings by John Brogden, English, circa 1870. A yellow gold suite of jewellery, the brooch composed of a horizontally situated oval Bull’s Mouth shell cameo of the Greek goddess Selene riding a serpentine dragon in a rubover collet setting, encircled by a conforming frame of gold beading and twisted gold wire punctuated with four gold palmette form plaques engraved and decorated with dark blue enamel and placed at the cardinal points, the reverse mounted with a hinged pin and scroll clasp, the earrings each composed of a vertical oval Bull’s Mouth shell cameo engraved with a bust length portrait of Selene with crescent-set headdress, encircled by a conforming frame matching that of the brooch with the addition of a pendant decoration composed of a horizontal bar of gold beading and twisted gold wires suspending gold link chains graduated from centre and ending in conical gold elements, the reverses mounted with French wire fittings, all in a fitted red leather case, the interior marked ‘FIRST CLASS PARIS MEDAL/ 1855.1867.1851/ PARIS FIRST CLASS & LONDON PRIZE MEDALS/ JOHN BROGDON/ Goldsmith/ MANUFACTORY/ 16, Henrietta St. Covent Garden/ London’. The cameo—defined as a gem, usually either a mineral or a shell, upon which a design has been carved in relief—is believed to have originated in Hellenistic Greece, during the third century BC. These miniature sculptures, at that time confined to the medium of hardstone, are thought to have been made with the primary purpose of personal adornment. The same practice of mounting cameos in jewellery was then continued by the Ancient Romans, and they are known to have been worn by many a Roman emperor. After the fall of Rome the fashion for cameos went into a decline, until it was again revived during the Renaissance period, brought about by a keen interest in the ancient world. At this time both antique and contemporary cameos were mounted in jewellery, as well as collected as objet d’art. The art of cameo cutting was revived in Italy, where it would remain a centre for the coming centuries. Again there was a lull in interest in carved gemstones, until the Neoclassical revival of the eighteenth century, largely stimulated by the discoveries of the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. As with the Renaissance, antique specimens were generally prized over modern cameos, and the worldliest men in Europe held them among their collections of art and antiques. That said, carving centres in Rome and Torre del Greco (near Naples) in Italy were established in response to the demand of the Grand Tourists, who travelled to Italy and Greece to become educated in the wonders of the ancient world. It was at this time that shell cameos, mostly made in Torre del Greco due to its proximity to the sea, became more popular, owing to the relative ease in carving shell over hardstone. In addition to Rome, hardstone cameos also became a specialty of Idar Oberstein, Germany, which had a long history with both the gem mining and cutting trade. In a shift away from the collector’s cases of the previous century, the nineteenth century saw a strengthening in the fashion for wearable cameos. After the Empress Josephine donned a cameo-set suite of jewellery at the coronation of Napoleon in 1804, cameo jewellery became all the rage. Napoleon played a further hand in promoting the art by establishing a gemstone carving school in Paris, inspired by his appreciation for the arts of the ancient world. By the mid-nineteenth century shell cameos, in part due to their lightness compared with hardstone cameos, were the height of fashion. Large shell cameos as well as hardstone cameos were set into contemporary mounts, often as suites of jewellery. Some of the best cameos of the nineteenth century—carved by a select group of recognized carvers—were set into revivalist mounts, corresponding to the subject matter. In Victorian England cameo jewellery was particularly prized, due in part to the fact that the Queen owned and wore a number of cameo jewels. One example which can often be seen in official portraits is the Badge of the Order of Victoria and Albert, carved by Tommaso Saulini of Rome, who also produced cameos for the maker of the present suite, John Brogden. To meet demand some carvers set themselves up in London, including William Schmidt, a German carver from Idar Oberstein, who produced cameos for top London jewellers, including Brogden, Carlo Giuliano and Child & Child. In fact, Schmidt purports to have been the first to carve cameos out of opal, which Brogden reportedly displayed in the Paris Exhibition of 1878. An extant example, now in the collection of the British Museum, was set by the Giuliano firm. Regarding subject matter, cameos throughout time have been largely figural, from bust length profile portraits to scenes with multiple full-length figures, and sometimes animals. Ancient Greek and Roman cameos often depicted mythological scenes as well as contemporary figures. During the Renaissance, mythological scenes were popular, often taken directly from ancient sculpture, as well as portraits of notable contemporary figures. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, due to the revivalist styles, both Renaissance and Classical subjects were copied and set into matching (and sometimes unmatching) revivalist mounts. From the Renaissance through the Victorian era, being able to recognize the source of the carving in a cameo was a mark of erudition, revealing in the wearer knowledge of Classical art. As mentioned, the present cameo parure...Category
Antique 1870s English Victorian Brooches
MaterialsYellow Gold
- Victorian amethyst and citrine brooch, circa 1860.Located in London, GBVictorian amethyst and citrine brooch. Set to centre with one round old cut citrine in an open back claw setting with an approximate weight of 60 carats, encircled by four round old ...Category
Antique 1860s Brooches
MaterialsAmethyst, Citrine, Yellow Gold
- Ruby and diamond brooch, circa 1945.Located in London, GBRuby and diamond brooch. Set to centre with thirty four square baguette cut natural unenhanced rubies in open back channel settings with a combined approximate weight of 3.40 carats,...Category
Vintage 1940s Brooches
MaterialsDiamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Platinum
- Cartier Paris Yellow Cognac White Diamond Panther BroochBy CartierLocated in New York, NYCartier Paris Yellow Cognac White Diamond Panther Brooch Cartier describes the Panther as 'The Panther is Cartier’s iconic animal: a wild, untamable anim...Category
2010s French Modern Brooches
MaterialsWhite Diamond, 18k Gold