This is a piece of big cat jewelry and has an interesting story behind its manufacturing. I bought it on ebay for about $30. It is a shoulder brooch. It’s kind of neat because if it is attached, you can make it wag its tail.

The neat story behind it, though, is that this was a very brief trend in the late 80s. In 1987, the Duchess of Windsor’s jewelry went on auction from Sotheby’s and among her…collection of jewels…she had this Cartier big cat bracelet that was a leopard…encrusted with diamonds and onyx. [It clasped] the tail to the mouth.

Apparently [the auction of the jewels] spurred a brief trend in the late 80s of these shoulder brooches in the shape of big cats.

This belongs in the Museum of Avoidance Purchases

Exhibited by Serena Washington

Transcript edited by Susan Golland