Silver Butterfly Pin
These silver butterfly pin examples bring miniature colour and craft to a lapel, prized for their bright enamels.
What a silver butterfly pin is
A silver butterfly pin takes the form of an insect, functioning as a brooch, lapel pin or small dress ornament. The pieces found here span the 1930s to the 1950s, bringing together mid-century modern, Art Nouveau and mid-century Scandinavian aesthetics.
Most examples hail from Norway, often rendered in silver or vermeil with vibrant enamel work. Forms range from simple winged outlines to detailed guilloche enamel depictions of butterfly wings.
How they were made
Silversmiths shaped the insect bodies and wing outlines from solid silver or sterling silver, occasionally applying a gold wash to form vermeil. Pin mechanisms and clasps were soldered to the reverse to secure the piece to garments.
Coloured enamel was fused into the metal cells by heat, creating smooth glazed surfaces in red, blue, pink and purple. Guilloche techniques added engine-turned patterns beneath translucent enamel layers to catch the light.
The listings feature silver and enamel materials across pieces dated to 1930 and 1950 in mid-century Scandinavian and Art Nouveau styles.
What varies in quality
Quality rests in the precision of the enamel work and the crispness of the silver casting or wirework. Fine pieces show even translucent colour without cloudiness, while simpler versions rely on opaque fills.
Design complexity also sets examples apart, moving from basic silver silhouettes to intricate Norwegian pieces with layered wings and patterned guilloche grounds.
Hroar Prydz·David Anderson
The Silver Butterfly Pin Glossary
- Vermeil
- Silver gilt comprising a base of sterling silver coated with a layer of gold. This finish gives a warm golden tone to the metalwork.
- Guilloche
- An ornamental engraving technique where a precise mechanical pattern is etched into metal beneath translucent enamel. It creates a shimmering geometric depth beneath the colour.
- Enamel
- A glassy substance fused to metal through high-temperature firing. It provides durable surface colour in shades ranging from deep purple to bright red.
- Brooch
- A decorative jewellery piece featuring a pin stem and catch on the back for fastening to clothing. These insect forms function as both lapel pins and dress clips.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I wear a silver butterfly pin?
These pieces fasten securely to lapels, collars, hats and scarves using traditional pin stems and safety catches.
Position the insect so the wings sit level against heavy fabrics like wool or tweed for a secure hold.
Are these pins made of solid silver?
The listings show pieces constructed from silver, sterling silver and silver gilt vermeil.
Makers combined these precious metals with fired enamel to create lightweight winged insects.
What periods do these butterfly pins come from?
The pieces span the 1930s and the 1950s, capturing mid-century Scandinavian design alongside earlier Art Nouveau influences.
Norwegian workshops produced many of the enamel examples during this mid-century period.
What colours of enamel appear on these pieces?
Enamel colours recorded in the evidence include red, blue, pink and purple.
These bright hues are often laid over patterned guilloche silver or polished vermeil surfaces.