A
brooch is a decorative
jewellery item designed to be attached to garments, often to hold them closed. It is usually made of
metal, often
silver or
gold but sometimes
bronze or some other material. Brooches are frequently decorated with
enamel or with
gemstones and may be solely for
ornament (as in the
stomacher) or sometimes serve a practical function as a
fastening, perhaps for a
cloak.