This is a stunning Tiger Cat brooch or pin designed by Alioto Adriana of Italy. It is hallmarked in a cartouche on the back of the pin with “800” for the silver quality (slightly less than sterling) and “79GE”, which is the maker’s number and the city of registration. According to the Silvercollection.it/SILVERSMITHSGE.html website, the 79 GE hallmark, was registered to Adriana from the early 1940s and was active until 1971. It lists the city of registration as Genova, which is also known as Genoa. Adriana is mostly renowned for fine filigree and enamel butterflies.

This exquisite Tiger Cat has a delightful pose and seems to have its own personality. The brooch is quite dimensional with vibrant enamel in a stunning turquoise or teal blue. It has black stripes, white ears and lovely coral red eyes. The silver base has a gold vermeil wash overlay that accents the enamel beautifully. This rare and lovely Tiger measures approximately 1 ½ inches tall and 1 ¼ inches wide at the widest point. It weighs .20 ounces on my postage scale, which converts to 5.67 grams.

It is in great vintage condition as you can see by the enlarged photographs. It has a rollover clasp on the back that works just fine. I have not polished this brooch as it has a lovely aged patina and depth of color in the gold wash. It has the normal imperfections you see in handcrafted enamel jewelry. Please look at the photos as they are part of the description and show the details better than I can describe.

The brooch would make a great addition to your collection of wearable art. It is perfect for any animal lover. It is also very collectible since it is an unusual subject matter for this designer who is known for butterfly pins.

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