Beschreibung:

A diamond and marquise diamond brooch by Tiffany & Co, circa 1915, modeled as a butterfly resting to the side of the diamond circle, the butterfly's abdomen set with a marquise cut diamond weighing 1.44 carats, with open work diamond set wings, the remaining diamonds approximately 4.30 carats total, signed TIFFANY & CO and stamped 'IRID PLAT', in a blue leather bound Tiffany & Co case, with a white silk interior Charles L Tiffany and John B Young founded their New York emporium in 1837. By 1848 the company had begun to make itÆs own jewellery, followed by silverware in 1851. During these years the company began to buy major Royal and aristocratic jewels including Marie AntioneteÆs diamond girdle. In 1853, Charles Tiffany bought his partners out, and continuing the trend of buying major jewels, including most of the collection of the French Crown Jewels from the collection of Empress Eugenie, as well as a canary diamond that became known as the 128.54 æTiffany DiamondÆ in 1878. During the later 19th century æGilded AgeÆ in America, a number of highly talented designers and directors including Edward Moore Charles Moore Paulding Farnham George Frederick Kunz, and later in the early 20th century Louis Comfort Tiffany ensured that Tiffany & Co remained one of the most innovative jewellers in the world, including the introduction of the æTiffany SettingÆ for single stone diamonds in 1886. International recognition had been bestowed on the company at the 1878 Paris Exposition when Charles Tiffany was awarded the Legion dÆHonneur and gold Praemia Digno medal by Tsar Alexander II. Paulding Farnham enhanced this reputation during the 1880Æs and 90Æs with his naturalistic enamel orchid brooches, and flower sprays and insect brooches set with the newly discovered marquise cut of diamond, which won two more gold medals at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. Tiffany & CoÆs innovations in jewellery design brought the company Royal patronage from Queen Victoria, Kaiser Wilhelm, the Russian Grand Dukes Alexis, Paul and Sergei, and the Khadieve of Egypt, in addition to their large wealthy American industrialist and celebrity admirers. The expansion was further guaranteed with the opening of branches in Paris in 1850, and London and Geneva in 1868. During the later 20th century, Tiffany & Co kept themselves at the pinnacle of jewellery design by employing Jean Schlumberger in the 1950Æs and Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings, Paloma Picasso and Elsa Piretti from the 1960Æs through the 1980Æs as signature designers. This continued attention to design and flair has ensured that Tiffany & Co has kept its place amongst the leading global jewellery brands.