These three European brooches, or stick pins, make a glittering set. Each has a skinny, vertical piece that can pass through fabric in order to pin it to clothing. Each is made of silver coated with gold and with clusters of jewels. The two brooches on your left and right are similar: they are straight and narrow columns, with several circular or diamond-shaped settings of stones of alternating sizes from top to bottom, anchored at the bottom by a bird. The brooch in the middle is different, because it is wider, its stick is diagonal, and the bird, which has a pebble-like texture, is larger and at the top. Under the bird- in the middle brooch is a twisting vertical piece set with four stones, and to the right and left of the vertical piece are four projections on each side, also set with stones and made to look like flowers.
European
Set of Three Brooches,
19th century
Gilded silver set with stones
Object details
Accession number
M11n42.1-3
Primary Creator
European
Full title
Set of Three Brooches
Creation Date
19th century
Provenance
Entered Isabella Stewart Gardner's collection at an unknown date.
Display Media
Gilded silver set with stones
Dimension Notes
M11n42.1: 10.5 x 3 cm (4 1/8 x 1 3/16 in.)
M11n42.2 length: 12 cm (4 3/4 in.)
M11n42.3 length: 8.5 cm (3 3/8 in.)
Web Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.
Permanent Gallery Location
Macknight Room
Rights and reproductions
The use of images, text, and all other media found on this website is limited. Please review Rights and Reproductions for details.
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.