Monet Vintage Gold Tone Butterfly Brooch, order Signed

This flashy Butterfly was an inspiration of the Monet Jewelry Company back in the 1950's-60's when the company started trademarking its pieces.

That is when I, as a young and poor graduate, wanted to be one of the crowd so to speak and was attracted to the Monet animal designs.

The Monet brand is well made and holds its quality over the years, being hard to break or damage.

Size: 1 5/8 inches across top wings. 1 7/8 inches length from antennae to lower wing tip.

Signed: "MONET" and a "C" inside a circle.

This is a solid 3 dimensional layered piece enhanced by the very fine etched lines Monet was fond of, and with a touch of plain gold.

Closure: working roll over locking pin stem hinged clasp.

Condition: No damage. Beautiful.

Time to let her fly to a new home.
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Some Monet Facts:
Monet pieces are so popular that vintage items from the 60's are still in the jewelry market today.

The Michael and Jay Chernow brothers opened the Monocraft Products Company in the 20's. Their first items included handbags with monograms and gold-plated appliqués. With the onset of the Great Depression, they strategized to the product line of Monet Jewelry. In 1929 the brand targeted its efforts on crafting custom-designed women's jewelry which would be affordable high-end looking pieces which included gold and silver-plated metals adorned with intricate embellishments and designs.

Vintage Monet Jewelry pieces are known for their craftsmanship, elaborate designs, and rhinestones. During the 1930's and 1940's, Monet Jewelry took inspiration from European fashion designers and created intricate, creative metalwork pieces and featured animal and floral patterns as well as Art Deco designs.

In the 1940's Monet started using sterling silver because of war restrictions on brass and platinum metals.

In the 1950's large flashy pieces were popular and the company started trademarking to identify their pieces as originals.

The 1960's, as more Women entered the workforce, charm bracelets and charms of every day items became popular order

In the 1970's Monet expanded its clip-on earring collection to include pierced earrings. It also started a new brand called “Ciani” featuring luxury designs with real gold, gemstones, and sterling silver.

In the 1980's the trend was loud and boisterous using metals and colors
After many years of changes in style and ownership, today Liz Clairborne owns the brand.