Brooch
ca. 1900
Medium
Gold, amethyst, demantoid garnet, and enamel
Dimensions
1 1/4 × 1 1/8 in. (3.2 × 2.9 cm)
Classification
Brooch
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Jacqueline Loewe Fowler, 2013
Accession Number
2013.605
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite brooch, crafted by Theodore B. Starr around 1900, exemplifies the pinnacle of American jewelry design during the Gilded Age., a renowned New York City jeweler, drew inspiration from ancient motifs, blending delicate human figures, harps, and Egyptian scarabs into a harmonious composition. Measuring just 1¼ × 1⅛ inches, this petite wearable artwork transforms personal adornment into a miniature narrative, evoking mythology and music in a style reminiscent of Renaissance revival and emerging Art Nouveau influences. The brooch's materials—gold, amethyst, demantoid, and enamel—high...