Created by Cartier New York circa 1960s, this charming brooch depicts an owl perched upright, its compact silhouette rendered with remarkable attention to texture and expression. Overlapping rows of individually articulated-looking feathers are carefully worked into the gold, their engraved surfaces catching the light at different angles. Two richly colored cabochon rubies form the owl's wide, watchful eyes, each encircled by a crescent of diamonds set in white metal. Raised golden brows, a sharply defined beak, and tiny talons clasping a perch complete the composition, lending the bird an engaging sense of character.

Animal jewels occupied an important place in Cartier's twentieth-century repertoire, allowing the maison to combine naturalistic observation with wit and imagination. Here, the owl's familiar symbolism of wisdom and watchfulness is expressed through a particularly appealing balance of sculptural detail and precious stones. At just 1.25 inches in length, the brooch possesses the intimacy of a miniature sculpture, designed to be discovered and appreciated at close range.

A little guardian in gold, its ruby eyes forever alert to the world around it.