demi-parure;
brooch;
ear-ring
- Museum number
- 1978,1002.895
- Description
-
Silver-gilt demi-parure of brooch and ear-rings in the form of nesting birds. The birds are pavé-set with turquoises and the wirework nests contain imitation pearl 'eggs'. The 'pearls' are made of glass with a pearlised finish. Image bottom.
- Production date
- 1850-1860
- Dimensions
-
Length: 7 centimetres (brooch)
-
Length: 5.50 centimetres (ear-ring)
- Curator's comments
- Text from the catalogue of the Hull Grundy Gift (Gere et al 1984) no. 754.
This set of brooch and earrings is closely related to a drawing in the archive of the Maison Auguste Blender (1850-70) now in the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris (Fig. 45). For a short time in 1866 Auguste Blender published a monthly selection of designs called 'Bijouterie pour tous', styling himself 'Dessinateur en Joaillerie et Bijouterie, Specialiste pour la piece de commande'. (Charlotte Gere)
See 'Knowledge, Money and Time: Anne Hull Grundy as a Collector of Victorian Jewellery' by Charlotte Gere and Judy Rudoe which appeared in Journal 24 (2000) of The Decorative Arts Society: Fig. 7.
Supplement to catalogue entry: Birds on nests set bought with the original case; this is mentioned several times by Mrs HG
See also C. Gere & J. Rudoe, 'Jewellery in the Age of Queen Victoria: A Mirror to the World', London, British Museum, 2010, fig. 170 p.219. Caption: ‘Novelty earrings in coloured gold with nesting birds and frogs. French and English, 1860s and 1870s.’
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1978
- Acquisition notes
- L Franklin, 39 Duke Street, London W1. Original invoice for £40 to Anne Hull Grundy dated 18.4.1952, described as 'Gold, silver and turquoise suite comprising brooch and earrings in the form of birds nesting'.
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1978,1002.895
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: HG.895 (masterlist number)
