Description
What an excellent design by the company of Marples and Beasley of Birmingham, England. As was fairly typical for the company, the UK hallmarks and maker’s mark appear to the front of the piece. It confirms the letter “i” for the year 1908….at the height of the Art Nouveau movement. It is an enchanting piece.
Marples and Beasley made some items with this fabulous “rainbow” enamel, in which a a range of vibrant, bright colours are used in the design. Here we have greens, blues, yellows and reds and they make a wonderfully eye-catching statement together, especially in these heart-shaped enamel panels. They are set together at the centre of the shield shape silver pendant, which also has three cut-out sections.
I love the drop – what an amazingly pretty thing, that you don’t always find on their pendant. Some are simply one plain shape. Here we have an enamelled round berry, from which a design of three stalks and berries are suspended. The same rainbow enamel is also used on the berries. I was marvelling at them, when using my jeweller’s loupe- an astonishing amount of minute detail. It is a rare piece of Art Nouveau enamelled jewellery.
In superb condition, a little patina on the silver, the pendant measures approx 5cm in height, including the bale. Maker’s mark and hallmark for 1908 on the front and on the bale, the lion passant English mark for sterling silver. I am happy to include the antique sterling silver chain too. It is a suitably fine chain and looks lovely with the pendant-it has long rectangular links interspersed throughout the chain. It measures approx 43cm (17 inches) in length.
I will send in a new gift box (not the display box from the images) and send by complimentary tracked and signed post. Thank you. Ref:cvu
