Damasquinado De Toledo vintage 24 kt brooch/pin. Damaquinado de Oro items generally reflect two distinct types of patterns; the Arabesque or geometric designs, and the Renaissance motif. This to me looks like a modernist Cross- very ornate and unique by design.
This is on its original card - appears to have never been removed. The closure is very unique, a lever type design. It took me a while to figure out how it works, perhaps that's why it was never worn or removed from the card! You pull the knob which releases the bar to pin to garment.
This is marked Damasquinado De Toledo Oro 24 KTS - Dated 2-7-87 - Measures 1" square
Damasquinado de Oro Jewelry is the art of decorating non-precious metals with 18 and 24 carat gold. It has roots in the Middle Ages and originates from the oriental-style artisan work done in Damascus, Syria. The craft, perfected by the Arabs and brought with them to Spain, has remained virtually unchanged over the centuries. These patterns are obtained by engraving deep, patterned cuts into steel and then placing a gold foil into lines of the design. This foil is hammered until the gold penetrates into the cuts. Each piece is treated with a bluing solution to obtain oxidation and the black background is formed.
