Butterfly brooch, gold-tone with blue enamel wings

Jewelry

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Butterfly brooch, gold-tone with blue enamel wings

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.81

Description

A small figural brooch in the form of a butterfly with open, outspread wings. The body and wing borders are gold-tone metal with a textured/engraved finish on the body and a polished raised outline framing each wing; the four wings are filled with mottled sky-blue enamel (or enamel-paint) giving a slightly marbled, pearly effect. The reverse shows a horizontal hinged pin (pin-stem) with a rotating C-clasp catch — a standard brooch fastening. The metal is bright with light wear; the enamel is intact.

Item Type

Brooch

Use

Belonged to Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez. Probably received as a gift.

Collection

The Cabrera Arús family collection

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Made/Created

Notes

MAKER: Unknown; unmarked in these views. No maker's mark visible on the back. Costume jewelry; manufacturer not identified. DATE / PERIOD: Not marked; mid-to-late 20th century (estimated) for an enameled gold-tone figural brooch of this type. Undetermined more precisely.

Materials

Material

Metal

Material Notes

MATERIALS: Gold-tone (gold-plated or gilt) base metal with blue enamel or cold-enamel/epoxy resin filling the wings; steel pin-stem. Whether the blue is fired vitreous enamel or a cold enamel/resin is not determinable. TECHNIQUES: Die-cast or stamped metal body with textured detailing, the wing recesses filled with enamel/resin; hinged pin-and-catch assembly soldered to the reverse. Standard costume-jewelry brooch construction.

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Gertrudis Caraballo Gálvez

Notes

owner

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

use

Research Notes

Notes

Butterfly brooches were produced in great quantity by many costume-jewelry makers internationally across the later twentieth century, so the form alone does not localize or date it, and no maker or origin should be inferred from appearance.

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

October 18, 2025

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 3, 2026