The lion first appeared in Rene Boivin’s expanding iconography in 1956 as an oxidized silver, gold and diamond pendant. Over the years, the lion design evolved, not only in its style and varying gem material, but also expanded to include other species of cats. The tiger brooch offered here captures this progression, with its piercing emerald eyes and striped coat, richly-set with colorless, yellow and brown diamonds, as well as its distinct camaieu setting and fully articulated body.
The camaieu setting was considered to be a novel approach by the firm, one that deviated from the more realistic interpretations of the design by such jewelry houses as Cartier, adding life and vibrancy to the brooch. The masterful detail and execution and refined movement of the tiger’s crouching pose, exudes qualities of strength and agility as well as serenity, all prized characteristics of this exotic animal.
Designed as a crouching tiger, with a pave-set colored diamond and diamond articulated body, accented by marquise-cut emerald eyes, mounted in 18k gold, with French assay marks and maker’s mark (indistinct)
Price and details on www.chriesties.com

Popularity: 3%