Description
A unique and fabulous piece of work, found in the possessions of Robert Catterson-Smith, artist and one-time Head Teacher of the Vittoria Street School for Jewellers and Silversmiths in Birmingham. Catterson-Smith was known to make jewellery and other items, which he entered into school competitions against the students themselves. When he won, he took no money of course, but I think his motivation was to elevate the work and ambitions of the students in his school.
I believe there is a very good chance that this is a piece of Catterson-Smith’s work, showing a number of the techniques taught at the school in the early 1900s. Clearly a hand-crafted piece, you can see the intricacy of the rope-work detailing and in the dozens of marcasites set around the central copper leaping deer motif. A fabulously large pendant, which also has a brooch fitting.
Other famous jewellery names connected to the school at the time include the Gaskins, Bernard Cuzner, Bernard Instone, Kate Eadie and George Hunt. This wonderful open work piece is surely a one-off and has a good deal of heritage.
The pendant has a diameter of approx 5.5cm so it is a large statement piece. I am happy to include the short silver chain you see in the images, if you so desire. Just let me know if so. Thank you.
Complimentary tracked and signed postage is included. I will post the pendant in a new gift box and not the box in the images as that is for display only.
