This hand made plague doctor brooch has Swardovsky crystal eyes and a sandstone bead on its necklace.
During the Black Death, doctors fought a losing battle against the plague that killed about 1/3 of the European population. They wore masks because they thought that it was the odors of the infected that made them sick. The long “beak” was to hold flowers and sweet smelling herbs.
You can buy or bid on this brooch at eBay at:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330517632135&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT
