Old Pyrenees enamelled brooch, Bagnères-de-Bigorre coat of arms, gilded metal

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

An antique brooch featuring a two-part articulated design, typical of regional souvenirs from the mid-20th century. The upper part consists of a rectangular bar with a bright blue background, embossed with the inscription "PYRÉNÉES" in gold letters. It is connected by a movable ring to an enameled escutcheon-shaped shield, with a red background and gold trim, on which the inscription "BAGNERES DE-BIGORRE" is written in capitals on a black background.

The shield's design depicts a stylized fortification with three towers, an emblematic motif of the spa town of Bagnères-de-Bigorre in the Hautes-Pyrénées. The outlines, inscriptions, and architectural details are rendered in gilding on metal, giving the whole a brilliant and contrasting finish.

The brooch features a polychrome enamel finish, combining royal blue, bright red, black, and gold hues, for a visual effect that is both elegant and evocative of tourist souvenirs from the 1950s-1970s. The attachment visible on the back of the upper bar suggests a classic pin system (no precise mechanism details are visible on this side).

The contours of the shield and the bar are sharp, the enamel colors remain vibrant and well-distributed, with no apparent chipping on the visible side. This type of brooch was commonly offered as costume jewelry or in souvenir shops in major spa resorts and tourist sites in southwestern France.

The piece is ideal for accessorizing an outfit with a retro touch, or for display among other regional souvenirs, thanks to its compact shape and the legibility of its motifs.

Condition

Second-hand item, sold as is. Visible side in good overall condition, with vibrant colors and present gilding. Possible micro-traces of use, with no major defects observable in the photo.

Did you know? The town of Bagnères-de-Bigorre, located in the Hautes-Pyrénées, has been renowned since antiquity for its thermal waters and neoclassical architecture. Enameled souvenirs bearing the town's effigy were highly prized by spa-goers and visitors from the 1950s, a period during which this type of brooch became widely popular in French spa towns.

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