Sterling Silver Yellow Sapphire Enamel House Style Wasp Brooch, M320.

This collection has been created to celebrate House Style and has been inspired by Deborah, the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire's own insect jewellery collection, given to her by Andrew, the 11th Duke. Deborah's famous insect collection included moths, caterpillars, spiders, wasps, dragonflies, beetles, bees, butterflies and even a grasshopper. She used to wear the brooches pinned to her shoulder, along necklines or across the front of a velvet waistcoat. Each jewel in this collection is a miniature work of art.

The embodiment of luxury this wasp is worn as a brooch and is fashioned from the finest sterling silver and embellished with yellow Sapphires. The wings are vitreous enamelled in the Plique-a-Jour style. Plique a Jour is a highly specialised enamelling technique and provides vibrant colour to many of the insect designs. Working like a miniature version of stained-glass, powdered glass is placed in cells and heated. Unlike cloisonné work the cells are open which allows the light to shine through the transparent or translucent enamel. Completed with post and butterfly fastenings for secure and easy wear.

Dimensions: 30mm wide