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Pendant: The Descent of Psyche into Hell: M.4 & A-1972

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Titles

Pendant: The Descent of Psyche into Hell

Maker(s)

Designer: Ricketts, Charles de Sousy
Maker: Carlo & Arthur Giuliano
Case maker: Wartski

Entities

Categories

Description

Gold, enamelled in opaque turquoise-blue, translucent green and red, and opaque white, set with sapphires, emeralds, chrysolites, a pink topaz, a clear gemstone, and a garnet, with a pearl and an uncut (?) emerald drop. The front is decorated in relief with Psyche descending into Hell against a turquoise blue ground. Above is a grotesque mask and a gold loop for suspension. On the back there is an enamelled motif centred on a flower-head, composed of interlacing circles, and a lozenge with looped points, with leaves in the spaces, surrounded by dots, and hearts. Above are the initials 'TM' over 'MA'. Gold chain for suspension. Case (A) of dark green leather, the upper and inner edges decorated with a gold line, lined with chamois leather and cream silk. Rectangular with hinge on the narrow side.

Notes

History note: Maria, née Appia, and Thomas Sturge-Moore, 1904; by descent to their children Miss Riette Sturge-Moore and Mr Daniel Sturge-Moore, from whom purchased

Legal notes

Bought with the Leverton Harris Fund

Measurements and weight

Height: 12.8 cm
Width: 5.9 cm cm

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bought (1972-04-27) by Sturge-Moore, Riette, Miss and Sturge-Moore, Daniel

Dating

20th Century, Early
Edward VII
Production date: AD 1904

Note

Designed by Charles Ricketts (1866-1931), it was completed on 5 March 1904, as a betrothal gift for Thomas Sturge-Moore (1870-1944), and his cousin Maria Appia who were married in 1904. Mady by the firm of Carlo & Arthur Giuliano, then under the directorship of Arthur Giuliano. The case (A) was lost when the jewel was lent to an exhibition in the USA in 1979, and a new case was made by Wartski, 14 Grafton Street, London.

School or Style

Renaissance Revival

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Decoration composed of enamels ( opaque turquoise-blue, translucent green and red, and opaque white) diamond ( or crystal) pink topaz chrysolite sapphire garnet pearl
Decoraton composed of emerald
Case Length 17 cm Width 10 cm

Materials used in production

Gold

Techniques used in production

Casting (process) : Gold, enamelled in opaque turquoise-blue, translucent green and red, and opaque white, set with sapphires, emeralds, chrysolites, a pink topaz, a clear gemstone, and a garnet, with a pearl and an uncut ? emerald drop

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: MA
  • Location: On back
  • Method of creation: Enamelled
  • Type: Initials
  • Text: TM
  • Location: On back
  • Method of creation: Enamelled
  • Type: Initials

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.4 & A-1972
Primary reference Number: 93546
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 17 November 2022 Last processed: Friday 8 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Pendant: The Descent of Psyche into Hell" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/93546 Accessed: 2024-11-02 20:25:41

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/93546 |title=Pendant: The Descent of Psyche into Hell |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-02 20:25:41|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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