Unusual, richly coloured brooch in shades of red, blue and burgundy with gold accents. I've beaded rows around a central teardrop shaped bead using a design from instructions by Diane Fitzgerald. The brooch is shaped like the paisley designs seen on victorian fabrics and based on an indian or persian design called Amb, Buteh or Buta in various languages. I've read that it's a pine cone a mango seed; although I've never seen a mango seed that shape, or a seed pod. It's a lovely shape and one of the first designs I learned to do with needle bead weaving. The beads are a mixture of vintage and new ones and the edging is a 5 bead picot using tiny size 14 beads in burgundy. Some of my vintage beads have been bought recently and some I've had from new and they've become vintage over the time I've owned them! I've put a backing of black leather on this brooch as it seemed a little soft and it was a little difficult to fasten the pin, which is hand made from sterling silver wire.
Quite small measuring about 1 1/2"(4cm) long and 1" (2.5 cm) wide at the widest point. The pin is fixed on by passing silver wire through the central bead and then bending it into a pin. quite a tricky operation as there is thread running through the bead as well and I have to avoid breaking it as it's the foundation of the beading! A lovely gift for a lady with style it would like equally smart on a plain jacket or a hat or anywhere that needs a little bit of sparkle.