Maison Plisson et Hartz chimera brooch. A circular yellow gold brooch, composed of an intricately carved crouching chimera with teeth bared and wings unfurled, encircled by a swirl of openwork scrolling foliage, with fine engraved detailing throughout and mounted to reverse with a secure pin fitting, approximately 3.3cm in diameter. Marked 18 carat yellow gold, approximately 23.3 grams in weight, numbered '4217', French, circa 1900.
Jewellery featuring mythological beasts was in vogue in France during this period. According to Henri Vever, Maison Plisson et Hartz were the first to introduce the chimera brooch, and despite an initially cool reaction, these brooches soon became very fashionable.
An image of this brooch can be seen in Vever H., Purcell, K. and Possémé, E. (2001) French Jewelry of the Nineteenth Century. London: Thames and Hudson, p. 1058.
