Description
This is a large, hand crafted, Arts and Crafts brooch, c1900 very much in the Arts and Crafts tradition and with so much detail. Unusual to see such a large example crafted in silver and then given a gold wash. The silver gilt finish really does look fabulous against the purple paste. The paste is also quite unusual in how it has been cut, with a large rounded, smooth top like a cabochon cut but with some cut facets to the side, catching the light too.
It reminds me of the work of several craftspeople of the era, including elements reminding me of the work of Mary Thew and some of the craftspeople in the Birmingham School. It is a substantial size and weight and those rounded leaves are very distinctive indeed. The partially opened flowers are majestic; large and very realistic with their silver gilt balls in the four flower heads all being individually placed and all different. Typical rope work detailing around the outer open work frame and also at the foot of the setting for the amethyst paste.
If you turn the brooch over and consider the verso, you can see how silver wires are intertwined around the frame, especially at the two sides of the brooch. Lovely to see the handiwork that has gone into its creation and it has been crafted by an accomplished maker. It retains its pin and simple C clasp. A slight wobble in the pin and some wear, as you would expect for her age, to the large amethyst paste. Silver gilt is in pleasing condition as is everything else. A large 6.4cm wide by approx 4.5cm in height, this has the pin exactly down the centre so would hang on a chain lengthwise.
I shall send by Special Delivery within the UK or else internationally by International Tracked and Signed. Boxes in the images are for display only-thank you.
