Luca Razza Bull Head Brooch

Ivory-coloured resin and gold-tone metal, Providence, Rhode Island.

A bull's head brooch, the face moulded in ivory-coloured resin with a deeply textured, shaggy coat and a broad muzzle, set with gold-tone eyes beneath sweeping, textured gold-tone horns. Signed RAZZA. Luca Razza worked in the Providence jewellery trade from the 1950s and became known for large figurative animal jewellery during his years with the Certified Corporation (1968‑75). The RAZZA signature was in use from about 1970.

For Razza's career and marks, see Researching Costume Jewelry History, Companies and Signatures: "R", Costume Jewelry Collectors.