Vintage 1908 Mardi Gras Comus Brooch - Gods & Goddesses Design - Antique Carnival Jewelry for Collectors & Costume Parties

You can almost see the lavish costumes, hear the roar of the crowd and see the torches referred to "flambeaux" for the Comus parade. For 100 years, it was the finale to the Mardi Gras Festival.

Its secret society, the Mistick Krewe of Comus, planned the first soiree and parade back in 1857. The parade is reputed to have saved the waning interest in Mardi Gras.

Each year held, a theme was chosen. In 1908 it was, Gods & Goddesses. Favors were distributed to the guests at the end of the evening of dancing and festivities. For other dances, those favors were mere trifles. But in 1908, these exceptional enamel and 14k yellow gold brooches were bestowed.

Depicting a goddess in gold toga, her head is crowned with a Grecian style gold tiara. Blue eyes blazing, the entire surface is hand painted in translucent and opaque enamels. Her skin glows with pink and roseate, slightly iridescent enamels.

The reverse is engraved, Comus, and 1908 with a 14k gold mark.