The octopus brooch was given to the cast member of a play DEAR OCTOPUS, Dear Octopus is a comedy by the playwright and novelist Dodie Smith. It opened at the Queen's Theatre. London on 14 September 1938. John Guilgud played the romatic lead, his co star Jean Ormónde owned the brooch. The octopus and its wayward legs measure 35mm x 30mm with electric green demantoid garnet eyes set on a bar brooch 50mm. Engraved to reverse DEAR OCTOPUS QUEENS THEATRE JEAN ORMONDE 14th SEPT1938. The play depicts the relationships between three generations of a large family. The "dear octopus" of the title refers to the family itself, whose tentacles its members can never escape. halmarked 9ct