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floral Pencil Brooch with Retractable Mechanical Lead

Classification:

391.458

Date:

April 3, 2025

Category:

Accessory

Type:

Novelty

Collection:

Unsigned Vintage

Color:

Gold

Era:

1950s

Material:

Made in/by:

United States

Hallmarks:

Primary Market:

North America

Style:

Retro

This gold-tone brooch features an engraved floral disc with a short chain suspending a slim mechanical pencil. The pencil has a faceted body with a retractable lead tip, typical of mid-20th century designs. No maker’s mark present.

About this item

This gold-tone brooch features an engraved floral disc with a short chain suspending a slim mechanical pencil. The pencil has a faceted body with a retractable lead tip, typical of mid-20th century designs. No maker’s mark present.

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Additional Information

Part accessory, part survival tool for the paper-based age, this mechanical pencil brooch reflects a moment when function and femininity were expected to coexist—quietly. Popular during the 1940s, these pieces were worn by secretaries, stenographers, and home managers who needed access to a writing instrument without sacrificing visual polish. The etched floral design hides its utilitarian intent, while the dangling pencil serves as a reminder: even your jewelry was expected to multitask. It's a wearable form of documentation readiness—stationery disguised as style.

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