An art deco diamond volute brooch, by Van Cleef & Arpels, circa 1935

Designed as three volutes, or fluttering ribbon scrolls, pavé-set with old brilliant-cut diamonds with pierced detail and applied tapered section of baguette-cut diamonds, diamonds approximately 13.00 carats total, signed Van Cleef & Arpels and numbered, French maker's mark and French assay marks, each section detaches to form three separate clips, length at longest point 4.7cm. Estimate: £7,000 - 9,000

Footnote: From 1934 Van Cleef introduced their popular 'flamme' clip which could be worn in a variety of ways and attached to either the dress, hat or hair. Following this, they devoloped other detachable, multi-purpose clips, called 'volutes' or 'copeaux' composed of ribbons of cascading brilliant and baguette-cut diamonds.
Cf: Raulet, Sylvie, Van Cleef & Arpels, New York, 1987, pp 116-117 for explanatory text and for an illustration of a model wearing a 'volute' clip in 1939 and for a photograph of Capucine wearing a hat with 'flamme' clips in 1934.

Bonhams. Fine Jewellery, 4 Dec 2008. New Bond Street - www.bonhams.com Copyright © 2002-2008 Bonhams 1793 Ltd., Images and Text All Rights Reserved