1.75"Vintage carved seashell brooch,
The back view shows a standard metal pin bar glued across the openwork frame of a center-cut whelk shell. This style of ocean-themed novelty jewelry was highly popular as resort souvenirs during the 1960s and 1970s.
The applied floral and leaf details are actually made from iridescent mother-of-pearl (nacre) shell rather than porcelain.
With this clearer view, we can break down the exact components of your piece:
The Base: A center-cut or sliced spiral conch/whelk shell, showcasing its natural brown mottled exterior and smooth white interior.
This specific style of vintage mid-century souvenir shell jewelry generally holds a modest market value, usually ranging between $12.00 and $25.00
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An identical example of your carved white and tan whelk shell pin with mother-of-pearl accents is currently valued on the resale market at $14.99
