Brooch: M.56-1982

Maker(s)

Maker: Phillips Brothers

Entities

• Brooch

Categories

• Jewellery

Description

Gold, slightly convex oval mount with swirling gold filigree, granulation and navy and white cloisonne enamel bosses, set with a curved slice of banded agate, pin fastening across the back with enamelled catch. Reverse engraved, ‘M.P.K / Christmas, 1865’ and 'K.J.K.'.

Notes

History note: Purchased by Mrs Hull Grundy from Wartski, 14 Grafton Street, London W1. £700.

Legal notes

Given by Mrs J. Hull Grundy

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1982) by Hull Grundy, J., Mrs

Dating

19th Century, Late
Production date: dated AD 1865

Note

The brooch may have been a pendant, the present clasp forming the loop at the top. The firm of Phillips Brothers was one of the most productive and successful London jewellers of the nineteenth century. Their range and variety was unsurpassed and included jewellery in the Italian archaeological style, the Renaissance Revival style (copying the jewels depicted in drawings by artist Hans Holbein, 1497/8-1543), as well as pieces inspired by the jewellery of India and Scandinavia. Phillips was also influenced by the objects discovered by Sir Henry Layard during his excavations at Nimrud, an ancient Assyrian city of Upper Mesopotamia (near modern­day Mosul, Iraq).