*Description: This is a rare 1940s sterling silver jelly belly bird brooch. It has STERLING stamped on the back and has a clear Lucite belly on the bird. It may have had gold vermeil over the sterling at some point but looks to have mostly worn off. The little bird has a tiny rhinestone blue eye and a line of tiny clear rhinestones along its wing. It is standing on a branch with a flower. There are colored rhinestones in the center of the flower and along the branch. This would be a great item for your collection.
As reference, on page 212 of Warman's Costume Jewelry, it is quoted as saying, "One thing that new collectors and sellers sometimes get wrong is referencing glass or colored plastic cabochons as Jelly Bellies. To be a true jelly belly, the center area of the piece must be clear and made of Lucite, a trade name for acrylic resin." It was also shared in this book that many of the clear Lucite jelly bellies in the 1940s were made of air plane window rejects. Not those coming back from war but ones that never made it in the first place. They were cut, shaped, and polished to a high gloss and then set in sterling. This would be a great addition to your vintage jewelry collection or make a great vintage gift!
*Approximate Measurements: Length - 1 3/4 Inches, Width - 2 Inches, Weight - .4 Ounce *Condition: Great vintage condition. Will see signs of wear under magnification. See photos for details. *Hallmark: Sterling *Item E3626
