What is a sévigné brooch?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
A sévigné is a jewelled brooch or bodice ornament set with gemstones in the form of a bowknot or ribbon bow, worn pinned to the centre of the bodice or at the neckline. The style takes its name from the Marquise de Sévigné, a famous French noblewoman and letter-writer of the seventeenth century, and became fashionable from the mid-1600s through the eighteenth century. Sévigné brooches were typically made in silver or gold set with diamonds or paste, sometimes with a pendant drop hanging from the central knot, and today they appear as desirable antique and period pieces.
Frequently asked questions
- Who was the Marquise de Sévigné?
- Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, Marquise de Sévigné, was a seventeenth-century French aristocrat celebrated for her letters, which are considered classics of French literature. The brooch style likely bears her name because she was closely associated with the fashionable court circles where this jewel was popular.
- What does a sévigné brooch look like?
- It is shaped like a ribbon tied into a bow, with two loops and two trailing ends, all set closely with diamonds, paste or other gems so the ribbon effect is entirely created by the stones. Some examples have a pendant drop hanging from the centre of the bow. The overall effect is elegant and deliberately feminine.
- Are sévigné brooches still made today?
- They are rarely made new as original designs, but fine antique sévignés from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries appear regularly at auction and with antique jewellery dealers. A few contemporary jewellers make bowknot brooches inspired by the style, though they are generally not called by the historical name.
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