VINTAGE MODERNIST SOUTH AFRICAN TREASURE — 1970s STERLING SILVER & TIGER’S EYE BROOCH (Signed WWL).
A bold and beautifully crafted vintage modernist brooch dating to the circa 1970s, this striking piece showcases a generously sized, high-domed Tiger’s Eye cabochon set in hand-crafted sterling silver. The gemstone displays the classic golden “cat’s-eye” chatoyancy that Tiger’s Eye is beloved for — a luminous band of shifting light that moves hypnotically with every turn.
The cabochon is securely held in four sculptural prongs, allowing light to play across the stone’s silky brown-and-gold fibres. Surrounding it is a smooth, organically formed sterling silver frame — softly asymmetrical in true modernist design language, echoing the artistic freedom of the 1960s and ’70s.
The reverse is stamped “WWL STERLING”.
Though little is documented about the maker, the WWL signature is known among South African modernist collectors, with the artisan active during the 1960/70 design boom, producing one-of-a-kind studio pieces characterised by bold natural gemstones and minimalist silverwork.
Fitted with its original vintage pin and rollover clasp, this piece remains strong, wearable, and wonderfully authentic — a slice of South Africa’s mid-century artistic heritage.
Tiger’s Eye is traditionally a stone of protection, confidence, and courage, believed to sharpen intuition and steady the mind. It was often used in mid-century jewelry for its dramatic colour banding and powerful visual presence.
Measurements : The brooch measures 3.3cm x 2.9cm.The tiger's eye cabochon measures 2.6cm x 2.1cm.The brooch with a weight of 15.3 grams.
