1980s Christian Dior Enameled Butterfly Silver Clip Brooch

This clip brooch was made for Christian Dior in the 1980s, in the form of a butterfly in silver-tone metal decorated with enamel. It measures 7.5 by 6.6 cm. Costume jewellery had been part of the Dior house since its early years, extending the couture house's sense of ornament to accessible pieces that complemented its clothes.

From the 1950s Dior produced costume jewellery under licence, and over the following decades it became an important part of the house's offer. Brooches, necklaces and earrings carried the Dior name in designs that ranged from classic to playful, often drawing on flowers, insects and animals.

The butterfly has been a recurring motif in jewellery for centuries, associated with lightness, beauty and transformation. In the 1980s, when statement brooches returned to fashion, it offered a graceful counterpoint to the decade's bold geometric styles.

The enamel brings colour and detail to the wings, while the silver-tone metal outlines and supports the form. The clip fastening makes it easy to attach to lapels, collars or scarves. At over 7 cm across, it is a substantial, visible piece.

Signed Dior costume jewellery is sought by collectors for its design and the house's name. This butterfly brooch, in very good condition with minimal wear, is ready to be worn as a statement piece.