Late 19th Century Silver & Gold Fly Bug Tie Pin with Iris Glass, Seed Pearls & Paste

Late 19th Century Silver & Gold Fly Bug Tie Pin with Iris Glass, Seed Pearls & PasteThis charming late 19th century tie pin takes the form of a beautifully detailed fly or bug a whimsical motif often seen in Victorian jewellery. The wings are set with delicate seed pearls, the face with rich red paste, and the body with early striped iris glass, giving this piece a jewel like iridescence and lifelike sparkle. What is Iris Glass? Iris glass is a fascinating material developed in the late 19th century in regions like Bohemia (modern

This charming late 19th-century tie pin takes the form of a beautifully detailed fly or bug - a whimsical motif often seen in Victorian jewellery. The wings are set with delicate seed pearls, the face with rich red paste, and the body with early striped iris glass, giving this piece a jewel-like iridescence and lifelike sparkle.

What is Iris Glass?
Iris glass is a fascinating material developed in the late 19th century in regions like Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic) and Austria. Created to imitate Iris Quartz (also known as Rainbow Quartz) found in the Rhine, it features a magical gradation of colours - often including soft greens, blues, pinks, and purples - that seem to shift with the light.

Early examples, like the ones seen here, have subtle, soft-toned transitions between colours, without clear boundaries. By the mid-20th century, iris glass became brighter and more defined, often with clear striped patterns. This fly’s body are a particularly fine early example - subtle and beautifully nuanced.