G. Petochi, a late 19th century gem-set brooch, designed as a hummingbird

G. Petochi, a late 19th century gem-set brooch, designed as a hummingbird, pavé-set with cushion-shaped diamonds, rubies and emeralds, mounted in gold, length 6.5cm, signed G.Petochi to the pin

Fratelli Petochi was established in 1884 by brothers Alessandro and Giuseppe Petochi in Rome. Their talents were noticed by Prince Alessandro Torlonia, who offered them a salon space in the Palazzo Torlonia, a famed 16th-century townhouse in the centre of Rome, in 1904. This move led to a number of prestigious commissions, from grand families such as the the Borghese, and the Odescalchi, as well as the Royal House of Savoy who granted them a Royal Warrant in 1926. Their trajectory continued throughout the 20th century, and the firm continued to serve an elite clientele, notably including the Hollywood star Audrey Hepburn. Said to have dropped into the Petochi salon to have an earring repaired while filming Roman Holiday, Hepburn reportedly became one of the firm's long-standing clients, embodying the firm's 'Dolce Vita' aesthetic.