1940s Bow Brooch
Vintage 1940s French Retro Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s European Brooches
Aquamarine, 18k Gold
20th Century Retro Brooches
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s American Brooches
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Vermeil
Mid-20th Century Unknown Brooches
Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1940s Retro Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Belgian Modern Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s European Retro Brooches
Aquamarine, Diamond, Gold
Early 20th Century Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Gold
Vintage 1940s Art Deco Brooches
Vintage 1940s Retro Brooches
Ruby, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1940s Brooches
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1940s Brooches
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1940s American Brooches
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1940s Brooches
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1940s French Brooches
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1940s American Brooches
Vintage 1940s Brooches
Aquamarine, Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Brooches
Vintage 1940s Retro Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Retro Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1940s Unknown Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, Palladium
Vintage 1950s Retro Necklace Enhancers
Diamond, Platinum
Mid-20th Century English Victorian Brooches
9k Gold
Vintage 1940s Brooches
Vintage 1940s French Retro Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s Brooches
Vintage 1940s American Modern Brooches
Freshwater Pearl, Gold-filled
Mid-20th Century Brooches
Diamond, Platinum
Vintage 1940s American Retro Brooches
Gilt Metal
Vintage 1940s American Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Gold, Rose Gold
Vintage 1940s American Retro Brooches
Ruby, Citrine, 14k Gold
Vintage 1940s American Brooches
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1940s Brooches
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1940s American Brooches
Vintage 1940s French Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
1940s Bow Brooch For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a 1940s Bow Brooch?
Finding the Right Brooches for You
Vintage brooches, which refer to decorative jewelry traditionally pinned to garments and used to fasten pieces of clothing together where needed, have seen increasing popularity in recent years.
While jewelry trends come and go, brooches are indeed back on the radar thanks to fashion houses like Gucci, Versace, Dior and Saint Laurent, all of which feature fun pinnable designs in their current collections. Whether a dazzlingly naturalistic Art Nouveau dragonfly, a whimsical David Webb animal, a gem-studded bloom or a streamlined abstract design, these jewels add color and sparkle to your look and a spring to your step.
Given their long history, brooches have expectedly taken on a variety of different shapes and forms over time, with jewelers turning to assorted methods of ornamentation for these accessories, including enameling and the integration of pearls and gemstones. Cameo brooches that originated during the Victorian age are characterized by a shell carved in raised relief that feature portraits of a woman’s profile, while 19th-century micromosaic brooches, comprising innumerable individually placed glass fragments, sometimes feature miniature depictions of a pastoral scene in daily Roman life.
At one time, brooches were symbols of wealth, made primarily from the finest metals and showcasing exquisite precious gemstones. Today, these jewels are inclusive and universal, and you don’t have to travel very far to find an admirer of brooches. They can be richly geometric in form, such as the ornate diamond pins dating from the Art Deco era, or designer-specific, such as the celebrated naturalistic works created by Tiffany & Co., the milk glass and gold confections crafted by Trifari or handmade vintage Chanel brooches of silk or laminated sheer fabric. Chanel, of course, has never abandoned this style, producing gorgeously baroque CC examples since the 1980s.
Brooches are versatile and adaptable. These decorative accessories can be worn in your hair, on hats, scarves and on the lower point of V-neck clothing. Pin a dazzling brooch to the lapel of your blazer-and-tee combo or add a cluster of smaller pins to your overcoat. And while brooches have their place in “mourning jewelry,” in that a mourning brooch is representative of your connection to a lost loved one, they’re widely seen as romantic and symbolic of love, so much so that a hardcore brooch enthusiast might advocate for brooches to be worn over the heart.
Today, find a wide variety of antique and vintage brooches for sale on 1stDibs, including gold brooches, sapphire brooches and more.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021In the 1940s, ladies wore clothes defined by clean and slim silhouettes. The jackets, blouses and sweaters often featured shoulderpads and had somewhat of a military feel. Most dresses were quite casual and pants and playsuits became part of a woman's everyday style.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A number of dresses were popular during the 1940s. Many women wore short-waist dresses with button necks, collars, fitted waists and full skirts. The classic A-lines with knee-length hems in red, white and blue colors were also a trend. Shop a collection of vintage dresses on 1stDibs.
- What is a 1940s style dress?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 5, 2021The most popular 1940s-style dress was the shirtwaist dress. It had a front opening like a men’s shirt, but with large buttons in the front of the dress, which was practical and easy to wear. The sleeves were short and necklines varied from shirt style to sweetheart and other necklines. Antique and vintage dresses from well-known designers are available on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024Claire McCardell was the designer often called the Mother of American Fashion in the 1940s. An American designer, she helped introduce women's sportswear to the United States and was particularly well-known for her bias-cut, loose-fitting Monastic dress. When World War II broke out in the 1940s, she designed pieces out of readily available materials like denim, calico and wool jersey, introducing new fabrics for women's clothing that would remain popular well after the close of the war. Many people point to McCardell as one of the first successful American fashion designers. Shop a collection of Claire McCardell apparel on 1stDibs.
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