The Legacy Collection - Rare vintage jewels, handpicked to be treasured for generations.
 
A marvel of motion from the Edwardian age — alive, intact, and impossibly rare.
This breathtaking circa 1920s windmill brooch is not merely jewellery; it is a working miniature sculpture, crafted in pure silver (hallmarked) and set throughout with hand-cut marcasite. Over a century old — approximately 105 years — and yet astonishingly preserved, it stands today with not a single element compromised. Even the most delicate feature, its moving windmill fans, continue to rotate smoothly, a quiet miracle of craftsmanship and engineering.
 
The design: a windmill brought to life
The brooch depicts a traditional Western windmill, rendered with architectural precision and poetic charm:
Four articulated windmill blades (fans), each meticulously set with marcasite and mounted to move freely — a triumph of early 20th-century mechanical jewellery
A tapered windmill tower, densely pavé-set with marcasite stones that create a soft, silvery shimmer rather than overt brilliance
A brick-patterned base, each “brick” individually defined and accented with marcasite, giving texture, depth, and realism
A tiny arched doorway at the base — a detail so intimate it speaks to the silversmith’s devotion to narrative realism
Clean architectural lines balanced with decorative sparkle, characteristic of the late Edwardian transition into early Art Deco
Every surface has been considered. Every angle finished. No effort was spared.
 
Craftsmanship that borders on the unbelievable
To create a fully articulated, moving brooch in solid silver — and to do so over a century ago — required mastery that is rarely encountered today:
Pure silver construction, hallmarked, substantial, and enduring
Hand-set marcasite, stone by stone — a labour-intensive craft now largely extinct
Mechanical integrity so precise that the moving blades remain functional after 105 years
A natural, even patina that confirms authenticity and age, not neglect
This is the kind of craftsmanship modern jewellery production simply cannot justify or replicate.
Why this is an extraordinary investment today
With silver prices skyrocketing globally, acquiring a pure silver, hallmarked, articulated antique at this level is nothing short of a steal. You are not buying raw material — you are acquiring:
105 years of survival
Obsolete craftsmanship
A disappearing art form
A museum-worthy late Edwardian Western silver collectible
Pieces like this are increasingly locked away in private collections. Finding one — intact, functional, and priced accessibly — is rare bordering on impossible.
 
The cult of marcasite — and why collectors covet it
Marcasite is not just a stone; it is a collector’s language.
There exists a global cult of marcasite collectors — serious, informed buyers who understand the history, difficulty, and beauty of this material. Figurative, articulated marcasite pieces in solid silver are the pinnacle of that category. When examples like this surface, collectors are often willing to pay any price to secure them.
The sparkle here is not loud or showy — it is subtle, antique, and hypnotic, catching light like candlelight on old silver.
 
A gift beyond price — and beyond time
For a lover of:
Vintage and antique jewellery
Mechanical or articulated pieces
Edwardian and early 20th-century silver
Objects with soul, movement, and history
This brooch is not just a gift — it is an inheritance-in-waiting. A piece that astonishes first, then endears forever.
 
Details
Era: Late Edwardian / early 1920s
Material: Pure silver (hallmarked)
Stones: Marcasite
Design: Figurative, architectural, articulated (moving windmill blades)
Condition: Exceptional antique condition — fully functional
Age: Approx. 105 years
This is not costume.
This is not trend.
This is history — in motion.
A jewel to be worn sparingly, admired endlessly, and treasured for generations.
 
- c. 1920s
- 925 Silver (Sterling hallmarked) and marcasite
- In excellent vintage condition. No defect or damage or damage. Please see close up video for quality assurance.
- Measures: 4 cm height x 2.5 cm wide
- Sourced from a coveted vintage fair in London, UK