Countess Cissy Zoltowska Large Gilded Metal Brooch with Molded Glass Leaves, Painted Enamel Leaves, and Single Osmena Pearl Cabochon

Countess Cissy Zoltowska Large Gilded Metal Brooch with Molded Glass Leaves, Painted Enamel Leaves, and Single Osmena Pearl Cabochon featuring the most feminine gilded curved metal stemmed flower motif, adorned with molded glass leaves in the prettiest rose pink and peach tones, complemented by painted green enamel foliage and a single natural Osmena pearl cabochon. The molded glass leaves, which change to candy pink and champagne pink as you turn the brooch, showcase intricate veining and naturalistic detail, all characteristic of Zoltowska's innovative approach to replicating organic elements. The materials and techniques used in this design, including the Osmena pearl cabochon with lovely pink and aqua iridescence, as well as the beautiful glass leaves and the vibrant painted enamel, reflect her distinctive signature blend of artistry and craftsmanship. It has a trombone clasp and it measures 11.2cm high and approx 8cm at its widest point and it weighs 17.8g. This beautiful 1950's or early 1960's brooch by Countess Cissy Zoltowska is unsigned (as they earlier pieces often were), and it exemplifies her mid-20th-century nature-inspired designs.

Countess Cissy Zoltowska, born Maria Assunta Frankl-Fonseca in Vienna around 1920, grew up at Altmannsdorf Castle, a cultural hub in Austria. During World War II, she fled to Switzerland, marrying Polish Count Zoltowski and adopting her title. Her creative career began with ceramic jewellery and flourished when she moved to Paris in 1951. There, she collaborated with renowned fashion houses like Dior, Balenciaga, and Jacques Fath, establishing herself as a pioneer of bold costume jewellery that blended vibrant materials like crackled glass and Swarovski rhinestones.

By the 1960s, her atelier, Maison Cis, produced hundreds of unique designs each year, featured in international magazines and sold in prestigious stores worldwide. Fluent in six languages and an avid traveller, Zoltowska found inspiration across cultures, particularly in Thailand. In 1967, she moved to Los Angeles, where she continued designing until her passing in 2004.

Known for her glamorous lifestyle, passion for art, and love of entertaining, Countess Zoltowska left behind a legacy of innovative jewellery celebrated for its femininity and exuberance