A rare, documented piece of Monet jewelry history.
This extraordinary 1961 Monet Spinneret Owl Brooch is a verified book piece and an exceptionally scarce example of Monet’s whimsical mid-century figural jewelry.
Unlike the more commonly encountered solid-bodied Monet owl brooches, this design features an elaborate open Spinneret-style wirework body, with incredibly fine gold-tone wires radiating upward through an oval textured frame. The result is light, architectural and almost sculptural—the garment underneath remains visible through the owl’s body.
The face gives this piece its unmistakable personality.
Two oversized circular eyes feature beautifully detailed radial texturing and are centered with deep emerald-green glass stones. Dramatic twisted rope-like brows sweep upward into pointed ears, framing the sculpted beak below.
At the base, the owl’s wrapped feet grasp a textured branch above a beautifully fanned tail, completing a design that is wonderfully whimsical while retaining the refined metalwork for which vintage Monet is known.
The reverse is equally fascinating, revealing the intricate construction of the individual wires and the original MONET © signature.
A Verified Book Piece
This exact design is a documented Monet book piece, providing important reference provenance for collectors.
It also appears to be exceptionally difficult to encounter on the secondary market. Despite extensive searching, no identical example of this particular owl design was located in the current online marketplace.
Other vintage Monet owl brooches do surface, but they should not be confused with this distinctive open-wire Spinneret example.
For the advanced Monet collector—or anyone drawn to exceptional mid-century figural jewelry—this is the kind of piece that deserves attention when it appears.
Details
Designer: Monet
Design: Spinneret Owl
Date: 1961
Documentation: Verified book piece
Jewelry Type: Figural brooch / pin
Material: Gold-tone metal
Eyes: Emerald-green glass
Construction: Open radiating wirework
Measurements: Approx. 2¼” high × 1¼” wide, including ears
Signature: MONET ©
Closure: Traditional pin-back
Condition: Excellent vintage condition with age-appropriate characteristics. Please examine all photographs, including detailed and reverse views, as part of the condition description.
Collector’s Note
What makes this brooch particularly compelling is the combination of documented design, unusual construction and apparent scarcity.
The delicate wire body contrasts beautifully with the heavily textured gold-tone framework, while those tiny emerald-green eyes give the owl an extraordinary amount of character.
More than six decades after its creation, the design still feels imaginative and sophisticated.
Rare. Signed. Book documented. Unmistakably Monet.
