A golden bird rests upon a slender branch, its richly carved ruby plumage adorned with emeralds, sapphires, and diamonds.
Created by the French jewelry house Mauboussin during the 1950s, this remarkable brooch depicts an exotic bird perched in quiet repose. Its body is fashioned from an approximately 40.00-carat carved ruby, the deep crimson stone intricately engraved with overlapping feathers that follow the natural contours of the bird's form. Above, the finely textured 18K yellow gold head is crowned by a graceful diamond-set crest, while a marquise-cut sapphire forms its watchful blue eye. A collar of vivid green emeralds encircles the neck, introducing a brilliant contrast to the ruby's saturated red.
Established in Paris in 1827, Mauboussin developed a distinctive reputation for imaginative high jewelry, particularly through its expressive use of colored gemstones and unconventional decorative compositions. By the mid-twentieth century, the maison's naturalistic creations reflected a fascination with exotic birds, flowers, and the richly colored forms of the natural world. This brooch captures that sensibility through its combination of sculptural gemstone carving, finely modeled goldwork, and carefully placed accents of color.
The bird's elongated tail is particularly expressive, its gold feathers rendered with delicate engraved lines that suggest the softness and movement of plumage. Small rubies, emeralds, and a sapphire punctuate the lower feathers, while the bird's finely detailed claws grasp a slender gold branch adorned with sculpted leaves and a diamond-set tip. The composition balances the substantial carved ruby body with the delicacy of the extended tail, giving the jewel an elegant vertical silhouette.
Measuring approximately 4 inches in length and weighing 41.4 grams, the brooch has the presence of a miniature sculpture. Signed and numbered, it is a compelling example of Mauboussin's ability to transform precious stones into an expressive naturalistic jewel, where color, texture, and craftsmanship are brought together with distinctly Parisian imagination.
A creature of ruby and gold, forever poised between stillness and flight.
