Brooch in 18k 750 thousandths yellow gold and 850 thousandth - Lot 243

Brooch in 18k 750 thousandths yellow gold and 850 thousandths platinum depicting the Death of Orpheus, his wings chased, his hair waving in the wind, entangled in a broken lyre. The lyre is set with 65 old-cut diamonds (approx. 2 carats). Rose gold pin (probably reported) with snail clasp. Work by the Maison POCHELON, RUCHONNET Cie (active in Geneva between 1895 and 1913). A similar model can be found in the collections of the Musée d'Arts et d'Histoire de la ville de Genève under inventory no. BJ0421. Our model features the lyre motif entirely set with diamonds, unlike the one in the Swiss Museum's collections. The latter differs from our model in that it has a baroque pearl pendant. Jewelers Alexandre-Louis Ruchonnet and Armand Pelochon are members of the Museum's acquisition committee. In 1929, together with their colleagues, notably the famous engraver and designer Eugène Grasset, they decided which objects and jewels should be included in the collections. This jewel, a Museum piece, perfectly symbolizes the end of the Art Nouveau movement, and is the richest known to date, in perfect condition. Pieces by these Swiss silversmiths are extremely rare on the market, and are of interest to collectors in the same way as Lalique or Vever. Dimensions 40 x 45mm Gross weight 34.47g