Antique Arts & Crafts Silver and Turquoise Blue Enamel Scalloped Brooch, 1880

Details

Description

A polished oval silver boss set within a rope-twist border forms the raised centre of this multi-tiered brooch. Flanking the … Read more A polished oval silver boss set within a rope-twist border forms the raised centre of this multi-tiered brooch. Flanking the central rectangular setting, two crescent-shaped panels display bright turquoise-blue basse-taille enamel over an engine-turned, beaded ground, which catches the light through the translucent vitreous layer. The surrounding oval plate is framed by an applied twisted-wire border and an open scalloped rim, where each lobe is finished with an applied spherical bead. To the left and right, delicate silver wire circles enclose stylised trefoil leaf motifs, reflecting the transition between late Victorian ornamental tastes and emerging Arts and Crafts and Jugendstil aesthetics. Turned over, the reverse reveals a rich brush-gilt wash across the hollowed back, providing a warm contrast to the silver face. The brooch fastens with an original tube hinge and an extended pin that catches securely in a traditional open C-clasp, typical of period jewellery construction. A small secondary hollow tube is soldered below the clasp mechanism, originally intended for a safety chain. The piece dates to circa 1880.

Measuring approximately 4.0 cm in width across the scalloped mount and 3.1 cm in height, the brooch spans 4.7 cm to the tip of the pin. The metalwork is unmarked, pointing to an unrecorded workshop probably located in the United Kingdom or Germany. See less