The Dancer - Vintage Marcel Boucher Gold Plated 'Cubist Ballet Dancer 'Brooch (VBR183)

The Dancer - Vintage Marcel Boucher Gold Plated 'Cubist Ballet Dancer' Brooch.  This lovely brooch is crafted from gold plate over a base metal. Signed Boucher, and numbered 7911P. Featuring vintage styling, and quality craftsmanship. This brooch is made in the form of a male ballet dancer. The brooch has a rich gold color, and and nice detailing in a simple form , represented by cubism. It has a satiny brushed finish, which displays a nice contrast with the polished finish. The Boucher cubist style pieces are among his most original and collectible designs. The twists and turns of this piece exhibit wonderful cubist modernistic detail. The pin on the back and the locking mechanism is in perfect working order. This Vintage brooch is looks wonderful when worn, and highly collectible. Beautiful brooch!  

History: Marcel Boucher was one of the most talented designers and manufacturers of American costume jewelry in the 20th century. His jewelry was notable from the very beginning due to the excellent design and high-quality materials. It was commonly mistaken for precious jewelry. 

Born in Paris, Marcel Boucher worked as a jewelry designer for Cartier, who brought him to the United States. In the 1930s., he took a job with Mazer Bros., where he worked until he founded his own company in 1937. Boucher made a name for himself creating bold, imaginative, enamelled pieces that were individual works of art, with brooches shaped like fruits, animals, and human figures. In particular, collectors covet for his fantasy bird pieces from the 1940s. Boucher items, which are usually signed, can be roughly dated based on their inventory number and mark. In 1944, he changed the company to Marcel Boucher Ltd. to Marcel Boucher & Cie. Early pieces may be marked "Marboux" or with his initials in a cartouche. "MB Sterling"was used between 1942 and 1944.  Pieces made between 1944 and 1949 may be marked with a Phrygian cap above his initials.  Later pieces are marked "Marcel Boucher" or "Boucher". After 1955 the copyright symbol appears above his name. When Marcel Boucher dies in 1965, his wife Sandra, took over the company. In 1972, the company became a subsidiary of watchmaker Dovorn Industries. 

The term cubism was often used to describe jewelry of this era (Art Deco) because of the angles, geometric lines and figurative representations used in its execution. A desire to eliminate the flowing lines of Art Nouveau and distill designs to their rudimentary geometric essence, thus eliminating seemingly unnecessary ornament, resulted in cleaner and more rigid lines employed in Art Deco jewelry, and a look forward toward modernism. 

Measurements: Brooch 51.00 mm x 41.00 mm 

Weight: 6.90 grams 

Condition: Very good

Origin: America, New York 

Date: Circa 1960