I think the Art Nouveau period is one of my favourites. The styles are light and delicate, and the workmanship had to be fine to accommodate the materials – often platinum, diamonds, pearls, and enamels.

Christie’s South Kensington (London) showroom is hosting a jewellery auction on April 14 at which this group of brooches is being sold as a single lot. The pre-sale estimate of £1,500 – £2,000 will make this very tempting for a reseller. The lot is described as, “A group of brooches comprising: an old brilliant and rose-cut diamond bar brooch, circa 1890, 4.5 cm long; a rose-cut diamond brooch of scrolling design with a rose-cut diamond drop, circa 1890, 3.0 cm long; a brooch of openwork scrolling floral design, set with old brilliant-cut diamonds, circa 1890, 5.0 cm long, one small drop deficient; a brooch of stylised bow design, set with rose-cut diamonds, and pear-shaped emerald drop, circa 1890, 3.5 cm wide; a bar brooch with an applied old brilliant-cut diamond lyre, circa 1890, 3.5 cm wide; a bar brooch designed as two whips, set with a diamond horseshoe, circa 1890, 4.5 cm long; and a brooch of stylised bow design, set with brilliant-cut diamonds, the detachable drop set with emeralds and diamonds, 4.0 cm long.”

Though most are fairly undistinguished, I would love to have that centre drop pin. Yum.