DIAMOND AND ENAMEL WING BROOCH, CIRCA 1900
Realistically modelled as a single wing, the feathers set with old cushion-shaped and rose-cut diamonds, with openwork sections creating the illusion of shadow, accented with sections of blue enamel, mounted in silver and gold, detachable brooch fitting, length 11.0cm
Footnotes:
For a similar example set in a tiara by Chaumet, see 'Chaumet: Parisian Jeweller since 1780', (Flammarion: 2017), p. 305-307.

Highly detailed wing motifs began appearing in jewellery from around 1870, inspired by winged helms worn by the heroines of Norse mythology, the Valkyries. The design was made famous at the time by Richard Wagner's three-act Opera 'Die Walküre' and winged tiaras were designed for women of distinctive taste. Two notable examples by Chaumet, with fine blue enamel decoration, are documented in the collection of his Grace, 2nd Duke of Westminster in 1906 and Mrs Payne Whitney, née Gertrude Vanderbilt in 1910. The motif remained popular well throughout the Art Deco period, with Boucheron and Cartier also producing fine quality examples, the latter supplying an exquisite example to the Duchess of Roxburghe in 1935.