A Kingfisher Brooch Designed by Edward Burne-Jones - 1884

This brooch represents a songbird surrounded by a heart-shaped olive branch. The colouring suggests a kingfisher. It is bejewelled with coral, turquoise and with a ruby inset for the eye.  It was designed by Burne-Jones for his daughter and made by Mark of Cario Giuliano in 1884.  

The kingfisher is said to be the first bird to fly from Noah‘s ark after the flood, supposedly receiving the orange of the setting sun on its breast and the blue of the sky on its back. Burne-Jones may have wanted to represent the vibrancy of nature particularly in summer, as well as the peace that the bird mythically symbolises.

V&A, M.11-2015.