Recently Sold (VBR289)

Marcel Boucher - Vintage Signed 'LEC' Le Couturier Gold Plated Austrian Swarovski Crystal Rhinestone Butterfly Brooch.  This rare brooch is crafted from gold plate over metal, hallmarked LEC for Le Couturier by Marcel Boucher, and numbered 9958. The brooch features numerous round cut Austrian Swarovski crystal rhinestones, three marquise faceted crystal rhinestone, one green glass cabochon, vintage styling, and quality craftsmanship. This wonderful brooch is made in the form of a butterfly, which is adorned by beautiful sparkling crystals. The brooch features a pin on the back with a secure rotary locking mechanism. This vintage brooch would make a wonderful addition to any costume jewelry collection. 

Comments: Rare example because it is signed with a rare Marcel Boucher hallmark of 'LEC' for his 'Le Couturier' line. 

History : The costume jewelry maker hallmarked "LEC" is a rare mark for Marcel Boucher for Le Couturier. Boucher Lec is a brand of costume jewelry designed by Boucher. 

Marcel Boucher is one of my favourite jewelry designers. He came to the United States from Paris to work with Cartier making fine jewelry in around 1920. He left Cartier to work with the Mazer Brothers and then in 1937 opened his own business.

Rhinestones which are also known as diamantes or paste date back as far as the thirteenth century where they were first made from Czechoslovakian or Bohemian hand blown glass. The term rhinestone came along later, when rock crystals were discovered in and around the shores of the river Rhine in Austria.

Joseph Strasser could be credited with the precursor to our present-day Rhinestone, but it was really when Georg Freidrich Strass in 1760 invented the first ever rhinestone (artificial gemstone) from a special type of crystal found in the Rhine River that the stones we know today were born.

The process was invented in 1805 by Italian chemist Luigi Brugnatelli who plated a very thin gold layer on top of silver. Since then, it has become commonplace in the jewelry world, with many base metals covered in gold, silver, or rhodium.

Measurements: Brooch 53.00 mm x 34.00 mm

Stone Size: Swarovski Crystal Rhinestones (Round) 2.00 mm -1.50 mm    Marquise 6.00 mm x 4.00 mm and 5.00 mm x 3.00 mm     Cabochon 5.00 mm x 3.00 mm 

Weight: 12.80 grams 

Condition: Excellent 

Origin: America, New York

Date: Circa 1950