Lot Description
AN IMPRESSIVE RUBY AND TITANIUM 'ROSE' BROOCH, BY MICHELE DELLA VALLE
The blooming rose with pavé-set ruby petals, mounted in titanium, 10.0 cm diameter, in fitted black suede Michele della Valle case
Signed Michele della Valle, no. 07065
Pre-Lot Text
'And she was fayr as is the rose in May.'
Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400), The Legend of Good Women 'Cleopatra'
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Lot Notes
Thanks to the use of titanium, this impressive brooch, naturalistically modelled as a blooming rose, is incredibly light for its size, weighing only slightly over 120 grams. The element titanium, being extremely light and strong, has the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal but, due to its physical qualities, is an exceptionally demanding material to work with and therefore better known for its high-technological applications in the aerospace, military and medical industries. The advent of titanium jewellery is a major development in the history of jewellery as it allows the designer to reach new levels of size and creativity especially for brooches, earrings and tiaras.
Made of over 5,000 rubies weighing almost 300 carats, this rose is a true eye-catcher.
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