Overview
A gold-tone cast metal shield brooch designed with red and blue cold enamel fields and set with clear pavé and bezel-set rhinestones. Marked on the textured reverse with an applied cartouche reading 'Polcini©'.
Preliminary identification
Vintage Polcini Patriotic Rhinestone and Enamel Shield Brooch
Photo reference
4 uploaded photos
Story
Shield motifs surged in mid-century American jewelry as symbols of national pride during the Cold War and Bicentennial eras. Polcini specialized in fine-jewelry-look pieces that captured this bold mid-century spirit.
Maker / Origin
Founded in 1911 by Ralph Polcini as Leading Jewelers Manufacturing Company, the firm rebranded to 'Polcini' in the 1960s. Polcini was celebrated for high-end casting techniques, rich gold plating, and handset stones that mimicked fine estate jewelry.
Condition & Value
Displays moderate wear consistent with age, including noticeable paint/enamel chipping and bubbling in the blue chief area and several dulled/darkened rhinestones. This visible wear reduces value by roughly 40%.
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Market Analysis
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Value Drivers
- ▲ Strong maker attribution with credible period details
- ▲ Better-than-average condition for the category
- ▲ Broader demand rises when presentation and finish feel intact
Concerns
- ▼ Decorative-only demand limits the ceiling
- ▼ Surface wear or missing provenance can compress the range fast
- ▼ Regional sale lanes often underperform specialist venues
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Comparable Sales
5 compsRegional auction· Jun 2024
$1,280
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Dealer archive· Mar 2024
$1,450
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Marketplace sale· Jan 2024
$980
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Estate platform· Oct 2023
$1,150
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Auction result· Aug 2023
$1,375
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.