What is a jabot pin?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
A jabot pin is a jewelled pin with decorative elements at both ends, originally worn pinned through the folds of a jabot, the soft lace or ruffled collar popular in European dress from the 17th century onwards. By the 1920s and 1930s the style had been reinvented in the Art Deco idiom, with the double-ended pin featuring geometrically cut gems, onyx, coral and diamonds in the bold, precise lines of the period. Today jabot pins are primarily collected as Art Deco jewellery, and pieces by makers like Cartier are highly sought after.
Frequently asked questions
- How is a jabot pin worn?
- A jabot pin is passed through folded fabric at a neckline, lapel or tie so that a decorative jewelled or ornamental element appears on each side of the cloth. The pin secures the fabric while displaying the ornament on both the front and reverse, which is what distinguishes it from a standard lapel pin.
- When were jabot pins most popular?
- Jabot pins had their greatest moment in the Art Deco period of the 1920s and 1930s, when jewellers reinterpreted the older form in geometric designs using platinum, diamonds, onyx and coloured stones. Cartier and other Paris houses made notable examples that are now collectable antiques.
- Is a jabot pin the same as a brooch?
- A brooch is a catch-all term for any decorative pin, while a jabot pin is a specific type distinguished by having decorative elements at both ends so it can be displayed on both sides of the fabric. A brooch is typically decorative on one face only and is worn on the outside of a garment.
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