A stunning crystal brooch incorporating the ancient glassmaking technique of pate de verre and complimented with brilliant gemstones and diamonds. This signed piece showcases outstanding craftsmanship and design. With a frog on a lily pad motif, the brooch is signed MARCHAK PARIS. A highly prestigious jewelry house founded in 1878 in Kiev, The House of Marchak became a Paris-based jeweler in the 1920s with a shop at number 4 Rue de la Paix, next to Place Vendôme. The jeweler's cachet was derived from the charm of his “object-jewels” that were a departure from traditional French jewelry. Pate de verre involves making a paste of glass that is applied to the surface of the mold, then fired. The greatest advantage to pate de verre is that it allows for precise placement of particular glass colors in the mold. The technique dates back to the ancient Egyptians, but it really came into its own about a century ago when it was revived by a group of French artists who gave this warm glass technique its current name. It allows subtle gradations of color, possible with no other glassworking process. Designed in the 1950s, the handmade brooch is crafted in 18k gold, and the leaves of the lily pad are encrusted with light blue sapphires that radiantly contrast to the soft blue tint of the pate. The frog is 18k yellow gold and diamond covered, perched gracefully on the pad.