1950s Avon/Marcel Boucher gold-plated brooch #7077

Avon (Belleville) gold-plated brooch c. 1955 3.25" tall, 2" wide There is some wearing of the gold plating along the edges, revealing the silver-tone metal beneath; this doesn't detract from the beauty except at two spots, circled in the last picture. That said, the brooch is so large and eye-catching that one doesn't notice the flaws until you look closer. Similar brooches in pristine condition sell in the $75 to $95 range (plus shipping). My price reflects the condition. Avon was founded in Belleville, Ontario in 1945 by Abe Mazer (brother to Joseph and Louis of Mazer Bros). In 1971, Avon was sold to Avon Canada Ltd., the Canadian division of Avon Products. Inc. (founded as the California Perfume Company in 1886), of "Avon calling" fame. "Avon Belleville" is used by sellers to differentiate the earlier works of the Canadian designer from the later works of the UK-US company. Marcel Boucher worked for Mazer Bros from 1930 to 1937, and he designed many pieces for Avon; his four-digit code is found on most of his designs (like this one); the number dates this to the mid-1950s. (1950 Boucher production ends with 4500. Between then and 1960, which began with 7802, Boucher produced, on average, 173 designs per year. Working from those averages, 7077 was produced c. 1955.) Tags: vintage, gold, gold-plated, Boucher, Avon, Avon of Belleville, 1950s, 50s, large, swirl, feather, brooch, pin, Mazer