Description
This is a truly gorgeous piece of design by the sought-after Scottish Arts & Crafts designer and illustrator, Jessie Marion King dating from c1900. This is a confirmed King for Liberty design and appears as design number 9448 on page 309 of the Liberty & Co Jewellery design Sketchbook held at Westminster Archives in London.
It is a strikingly naturalistic foliate design, which King executed superbly time and time again on her pieces of jewellery. This necklace is in a combination of dusky plum and lime green enamel….complimenting each other completely.
They really enhance the colour of the rich plum faceted amethyst cabochon in the centre of the design.
I have seen this necklace with blue toned enamels so it is lovely to see it here in warmer and more autumnal tones. I love the delicate, organic lines on the leaves…very sweet.
King once spoke about having her eyes “pricked” whilst sleeping outside on the grass by fairies and in her quest to represent their interests on earth, her work showed the fantastical, organic influences of fairy-like elements. She also illustrated and this same ethereal quality came into her drawings / paintings.
King was one of the famous Glasgow Girls, who had worked at the Glasgow School of Art and who had helped shape and develop the Glasgow School of design. Her work remains, as always, highly collectable.
This beautiful necklace, designed for Liberty & Co is in good shape…with some minimal enamel loss (as is usual with these pieces by King). However, the silver work and enamelling is in pleasing order for such an important piece dating to 1900.
The pendant measures approx. 5cm in height, by 3cm wide. The chain is approx. 44cm long. It comes with its original chain and barrel clasp, in super working order. The patented clasp is marked as such which is how I know it is the original. The clasp sits not dead centre of the chain but still at the back of your neck. I am unsure if it has always been like this or whether a tiny piece of the chain on the right side was damaged. It is a lovely length of approx 16 inches (40.5 cm).
It will be sent by International Tracked and Signed. Many thanks and please do ask if you have any further questions. Please note the box is for display purposes only and the necklace will be securely boxed in a new necklace presentation box for safe passage.
Ref:cve
