Attributed to Raymond YARD, American work from the 1930s - Lot 48

Attributed to Raymond YARD, American work from the 1930s Brooch depicting a “rabbit jockey riding a horse-headed beer keg” in 850‰ platinum and 750‰ white and yellow gold Entirely set with old-cut and 8/8 diamonds and accented with black and blue enamel; the rabbit holds a carved coral carrot under its arm, with round faceted rubies in a closed-set setting for the eyes. Pins in 750‰ white gold. Dimensions: 2.9 x 3.4 cm. Gross weight: 12 g. (Minor chips in the enamel, two stones missing). Accompanied by a Raymond C. YARD case in red morocco leather with gold-tone small ironwork. The reputation of the Raymond Yard House is largely associated with its series of animal and anthropomorphic brooches, combining fine jewelry, humor, and social commentary on American society. The first “Rabbit” brooch was created in 1928, depicting the rabbit in profile, standing upright, wearing a jacket and a hat, carrying a cane and a bouquet of flowers. Then, starting in 1929, the rabbits became the iconic waiters, thus poking fun at Prohibition in the United States. These pieces, rare on the market, are distinguished by their numerous design variations, combining diamond pavé settings with calibrated gemstones (rubies, sapphires, emeralds) and colored enamels. A piece very similar to our jockey rabbit—dated 1931—is featured in the seminal work on the history of the Yard House: KUZMANOVIC N., Yard - The Life and Magnificent Jewelry of Raymond C. Yard, New York, The Vendome Press, 2007, pp. 10-11.