Description
A wonderfully important and rare English Arts and Crafts brooch attributed to Charles Robert Ashbee (1863-1942) of the Guild of Handicraft, c1900. As you can see it is still nestled in its fitted Tadema Gallery box, from where it had clearly been acquired in the past. For those unfamiliar with the Tadema Gallery in London, it is a superlative high-end gallery selling the finest and most important pieces of design from influential designers of their day. This is a museum quality piece.
C R Ashbee was one of the leading lights of the Arts and Crafts movement and his pieces are rare to find. He trained as an architect originally but later set up the prestigious Guild of Handicraft in 1888, which would create some of the most inspired metalwork and jewellery designs of the day. Ashbee pieces are particularly sought-after, with his work being represented in the V&A Museum in London.
This beautiful brooch has a rectangular enamel plaque with rich peacock colours of cobalt blues and iridescent greens. There is a strikingly attractive foliate design to each side, with swirls and generous coiled silver lines reminiscent of the Art Nouveau movement of the day. I imagine this was made in the later years of the 1800s, so 1890-1900.
In lovely condition, having been nestled in this fitted box for years, the brooch measures approx 4.1cm by 2.3cm and has the most fabulous organic lines and curves….a real beauty of a piece.
I shall post by special delivery within the UK or else by international express courier. I will send in the box you see in the images Thank you.
Ref:dkr
