1940s-1950s Vintage Guadalupe Poppy Jasper Brooch

A rare mid-century vintage brooch featuring an oval cabochon of genuine Guadalupe Poppy Jasper, one of the most sought-after orbicular jaspers from California's historic Santa Clara Valley. The stone displays classic "poppy" orbicular patterns with crisp cream-white centers surrounded by rich brick-red margins, set against a warm mustard-yellow and earthy matrix with a glossy, glassy polish and an unpolished natural back.

Item Details

• Era: 1940s–1950s
• Period: Mid-Century / Victorian Revival
• Creator: Unknown European Maker
• Colors: Brick red, mustard yellow, cream, silver
• Metal: Silver-plated brass
• Materials: Natural Guadalupe Poppy Jasper cabochon, silver-plated brass
• Closure: Working trombone safety clasp
• Dimensions:
• Height: 30 mm (1 1/4 inches)
• Width: 41 mm (1 5/8 inches)
• Weight: 15.1 grams
• Hallmarks: None
• Style: Victorian Revival / Vintage Lapidary
• Origin: European setting with California gemstone
• Place of Origin: Europe (likely Germany or Czechoslovakia)
• Condition: Very good vintage condition. The polished jasper cabochon is smooth and free of chips or cracks, with an unpolished natural reverse. The trombone clasp operates smoothly. There are a few tiny nicks and minor wear to the silver plating.

About Guadalupe Poppy Jasper

Also known among rockhounds as Mercury Jasper or Pigeon Eye Jasper, Guadalupe Poppy Jasper was uncovered as a geological byproduct of historic mercury (quicksilver) mining within the New Almaden Mining District of Santa Clara County, California. Unlike widespread rockhounding beds, authentic Guadalupe Poppy Jasper came from a single, localized vein uncovered near the historic Guadalupe Mine workings and the Green Valley Dump near Los Gatos and the Guadalupe Reservoir.

Actively collected between the 1940s through late 1960s, the deposit was completely mined out by 1970. Today, the original collecting zones are permanently closed beneath reservoir waters, highways, and protected county parklands, including Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Because no new rough material can ever be excavated, all genuine Guadalupe Poppy Jasper on the market comes strictly from old-stock vintage collections.

Metaphysical Properties

In crystal healing traditions, Poppy Jasper is celebrated as a stone of vitality, grounding, and courage. Resonating with the base chakra, it is believed to calm emotional stress, strengthen personal boundaries, and spark fresh motivation and creative action.

Design and Construction

The cabochon is housed in a simple, classic bezel setting crafted from silver-plated brass and fitted with a traditional trombone safety clasp. The trombone clasp style was widely used by European workshops in Germany and Czechoslovakia through the 1930s, 1940s, and early 1950s. Whether mounted in Europe using exported post-war California rough or fitted into a classic European stock bezel by a mid-century lapidary artist, this piece pairs old-world hardware with an extinct American gemstone.