Broche c. 1908 - 1911

This is a gold brooch with sapphires and diamonds by Lodewijk Willem van Kooten II. It’s so tiny, it's hard to imagine how the artist put this together. I can imagine Kooten sitting at his bench with a magnifying glass and all the tools of the jeweler’s trade, coaxing these materials into a new configuration. He builds up this setting, a little at a time, working with intense focus, until it all clicks into place. The gold is softly shaped into a kind of lozenge, a flattened diamond that forms a setting for the diamonds and sapphires. The central sapphire is a deep royal blue that draws the eye. What's compelling is how this simple geometric design can still feel so modern and refined. Kooten’s brooch isn’t just an object; it’s a feeling, an attitude, a moment of quiet contemplation turned into something precious and enduring.