The Jewellery Box

Floral 'en tremblant' brooch, c. 1880s

Diamonds set in silver, with gold ($14,600, 1stdibs)

'The French term 'en tremblant' meaning 'to tremble'. This kineticism was achieved by coiling springs of metal and attaching motifs such as florals or dragonfly wings as a way to make them scintillate...

Ulzii brooch by Baigal

Sterling silver, 14k white gold plating, zircon, freshwater pearl, mother-of-pearl.

Ulzii moon brooch by Baigal

Sterling silver, 14k white gold plating, zircon.

Silver necklace with enamelled silver, turquoise and coral beads, and grooming accessories

Mongolia, 19th century

'Grooming sets such as this example were attached to the dress or worn around the neck.  Among the implements here, all in silver, are an ear pick, a nail cleaner, tongue scraper and a tooth pick.

The set features silver beads with enamelled ends, beads made from solid coral and turquoise, and two carved agate ornaments.

The centrepiece of the necklace is a central series of pendants that include, all in silver, double gourd motif, a large, elaborate double dragon pendant, and a Mongolian or Mongol horse.

The inclusion of a horse is particularly suggestive of the set’s Mongolian origins. The horses were essential to the nomadic lifestyle of the Mongolian steppe.' X

Child and woman standing outside a ger (yurt) in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, before 1923.

She is wearing head and breast ornaments with butterfly motifs.

Chahar Mongol headdress, Inner Mongolia, late 19th century

Silver, coral, turquoise, and other semi-precious stones.

In the collection of the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art.

Necklace, Mongolia, 19th century

Metal, glass, stone, feathers, silk.

In the collection of the Metropolitan Museum.

'Mongolian Woman' necklace by Guzel Bakeeva

Made from Simbirtsite, Geode, tierracast, Czech beads, Japanese Toho seed beads, Japanese delica beads, soutache.

The necklace is inspired by the traditional head ornament and hair style of married noble Khalkha women in Mongolia.

Photos from between 1910 and 1925.

The hair style was designed to mimic cow's horns, the cow for the Mongols being the symbol of freedom and nomadic life.

Fox ring by Mongolian designer Mariia Khas

Finger armour in silver, by Mongolian designer Mariia Khas

Morin Khuur earrings by Baigal

'Created to embody the traditional Mongolian musical instrument, the Morin Khuur, known as the horsehead fiddle, featuring a treble clef motif signifying the enchanting melody produced by the musical instrument.'

Sterling silver, 14k white gold plating, zircon, $210

Mouse brooch by Chanel, Spring 2007

Blackberry & Mouse brooch by Bill Skinner

Cat & Mouse earrings by Rossella Ugolini

Mouse clip-on earrings by Naimah, 2024

Mouse brooch by Butler & Wilson, late 20th C