Flower Brooch c. 1947 - 1953

The flower brooch, made by Fa. Rodrigues & Cohen, uses gold to mimic a spray of leaves and berries tied with a ribbon. Although this piece is undated, we might consider the changing role of jewelry in reflecting social aspirations during the modern era, which is when this piece was most likely created. Looking closely, we can see the brooch uses gleaming precious materials to represent organic forms, transforming nature into a status symbol. In the 19th century, as industrialization created new wealth, jewelry became an important way for the rising middle class to perform gentility. By the 20th century, jewelry design schools had been established, and new techniques allowed for mass production. To understand this brooch more fully, we might research the Rodrigues & Cohen company archives to contextualize its place within a particular social and economic history of jewelry making. This would allow us to determine how the brooch might be seen as a form of cultural expression related to social conditions.