Description
Firstly, every piece George Hunt made was designed and created by himself in his own little workshop at the bottom of his garden. Each of these fabulous pieces is unique. Please do research about George if you don’t know of him; he was a deaf Arts and Crafts designer / craftsman who trained at the Vittoria Street School in Birmingham, alongside other Arts and Crafts greats. He made a number of enamel pieces, which is what he is most well known for. This is a very large piece with a strong silver mechanism, meaning you can stand it safely on your desk / or in a display case and show it as a piece of art.
This large mermaid enamel is signed to the counter enamel on the verso “G. Hunt 1933”. It also carries his silver maker’s mark on the silver clip, which is the small shield shape with the letters GH inside. Set on a silver openwork structure with two silver feet so it stands well, there are ornately curled silver and gold wires to each side. They are reminiscent of waves. Three bezel set blister pearls are set into each side panel. They reinforce the naturalistic sea theme of the whole design.
The enamel has been carried out on a copper base. There are vivid blues and greens and also gold touches dotted over the colours below, which really give a magical watery quality. Bonhams sold a fairly similar Hunt mermaid a number of years ago but I have to say that I prefer this design, not least because of the strong jewel colours in the mermaid’s tail.
The enamel was starting to disintegrate along the top and in one or two spots along the very edge next to the silver setting. However, a professional enamel restorer in London (Hatton Garden) has restored and reset much more sympathetically in its fitting so that the enamel is secure for another hundred years hopefully. It is such a shame to have seen a number of George’s pieces damaged beyond repair over the years . Enamel is delicate so I feel content that this important piece of Arts and Crafts history has been given the best chance to move forward in security. There is some patina, as you would expect but I shall leave that for you to decide upon.
The clip measures a touch over 7cm in height and a little over 5cm at the widest point. I am sure she will adorn someone’s collection wonderfully or else I am sure she will be content to grace your desk so that you can behold her beauty.
I will send (well-packaged) by international courier or else by Special delivery within the UK. Thank you.
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