Rare Antique Falize Gold, Diamond and Enamel Brooch

Rare Victorian gold, diamond and enamel Falize brooch Very pretty Victorian brooch with a central diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds and orange and blue enamel decorations. The enamel is a typical Falize design, raised and with gold border which is thick and with 5 small diamonds interspersed. Beautifully made. Principal diamond about 0.5ct, G colour P1 clarity. Diameter 3.1cm 9.1gm. In a box. Falize During the second half of the nineteenth century, Paris was the scene of an extraordinary flowering of jewellery design and manufacture. In this period many of the internationally famous houses opened their doors: Cartier in 1847, Boucheron in 1858, Lalique in 1885 and others that are now forgotten. It was as early as 1840 that the house of Falize began its career; once overlooked by historians, it is now regarded as one of the most refined and meticulous of jewellers and goldsmiths. Until its close in 1936, its story unfolds over three generations: the founder Alexis, his son Lucien who ran the enterprise in its most illustrious period, and Lucien's three talented sons who worked in the twentieth century as Falize Frères. In recent years, Falize has been rediscovered, and its jewels and objects can be found at auction sales fetching handsome prices because of their rarity and quality. Falize jewels often have fascinating histories, as their clientele included such illustrious personalities as the Imperial Russian family, the Romanian royal family, Sarah Bernhardt, Colette and many more.