Circa 1890 French Gold Eagle & Diamond Brooch

Dating to circa 1890, this French Victorian brooch is crafted in 18KT gold as an eagle captured in flight, its wings fully extended and its talons clutching a suspended old mine-cut diamond.

Eagles carried numerous associations in 19th-century European imagery, including strength, authority, courage, and imperial power. Without knowing the original circumstances of this particular brooch, we can't say precisely what the eagle represented to its first owner, but its commanding presence was certainly part of the design's appeal.

French hallmarks confirm the brooch's origin, while the mark DÉPOSÉ indicates that the design was registered or legally protected. Rather than identifying a maker or guaranteeing an object's uniqueness, déposé essentially tells us someone considered the design proprietary enough to protect.