Description
This is a truly fabulous piece of design by the sought-after Scottish Arts & Crafts jewellery designer, painter and illustrator, Jessie Marion King dating from c1900. I have never seen this design before but it sings Jessie King out loud, from the metallic quality of the vibrant enamel to the shapes of the two types of leaves, to the clusters of berries in strategic places. The matching of the lilac and cobalt enamels to the rich blue of the Ceylon moonstones is just sublime.
Jessie 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. Jessie 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 necklace features a strikingly naturalistic foliate design, which is lovely on this example, as it drapes over the central moonstone, as well as from underneath it. Looking under a loupe, you see the craft of using two colours of enamel and blending in different ways on literally every leaf. Hence some leaves appear striking cobalt with a dot of mauve and others look more lilac to mauve. Jessie’s attention to every minute detail is exquisite. All shimmer so I assume the enamel was laid over a foil element. With the shifting of the blues in both moonstones- it is just a lovely thing.
This beautiful necklace, designed for Liberty & Co is in pleasing condition with no missing enamel, thankfully. Jessie’s pieces were exquisitely executed and on the diminutive size…like the fairies that influenced her work. This, however, still makes a striking statement because of the enamel colours and the moonstones. It is a delight and as said, I have never seen another.
The pendant measures approx. 3.5cm in height. The chain which I believe is original (clasp change in the past) is approx. 41cm (16.25 inches) long. The necklace retains some patina as I never like to remove it all, in case a little is preferred for aesthetic reasons. It will polish further if that is what you desire.
It will be sent by complementary Special Delivery within the UK or else by express courier internationally. 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. Thank you.
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