Gold brooch with enameled beetle. England, around 1880 [1700×1700]

[Museum](https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O86845/brooch-unknown/). This brooch is a superb example of the Victorian taste for insects in jewellery. This beetle has been decorated with translucent enamels which allow the colour of the gold to shine through. It is set with diamond chips. The leaf has been engraved and then matted all over, using a circular matting tool to create a dense, matt surface which contrasts with the shiny enamels.