An artful brooch, only from The Met

A celebration of whimsy and artistry, this handcrafted brooch borrows from the exquisite detailing on an imaginative Bohemian ewer (ca. 1680 and early 19th century), a type of vase-shaped pitcher, in The Met collection. A tangle of fantastical tails and scales supports a smoky rock crystal basin fiercely protected by a dragon, whose serpentine form creates a handle. The Museum’s remarkable Renaissance-style vessel is attributed to the workshop of the artisan Ferdinand Eusebio Miseroni (Italian, active Prague, working 1656–84); however, certain elements indicate that it was reworked in the early 19th century.