Design thumbnail 1
Design thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case MB2E, Shelf M74

Design

c. 1990 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Susan Phillips McMeekin is a British designing goldsmith and a Freeman of the Goldsmiths Company, best known for designing high-end objects for Royalty and Heads of State during a career spanning some fifty years. Originally trained in jewellery design and silver smithing at the Royal College of Art, she has applied the techniques of jewellery design to a range of luxury objects, including clocks, gold boxes, pens, handbags, lamps, tableware and objets d'art. McMeekin has been self employed throughout her career, and has designed for McCabe McCarty (now David McCarty Ltd.) since 1977. Many of McMeekin's commissions come from clients in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar. Her work is characterised by the use of gold and precious stones, Plique-à-jour enamel, and the inclusion of mechanised moving parts. She frequently includes imagery taken from the natural world and conducts extensive research into the flora and fauna of the local region before including it in her designs.

McMeekin makes extensive preparatory drawings before executing each piece. Her work includes private roughs, drawings communicating instructions to the craftsmen who execute her designs, and highly-finished gouache presentation drawings.

This mechanical rotating photograph frame was designed by McMeekin for a client in Saudi Arabia. It depicts the Masjid al-Haram mosque and the Ka'aba and was made of 18 carat gold, diamonds, and enamel on a malachite base.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Design
  • Design
Materials and techniques
Pencil and gouache on tracing paper with black backing paper
Brief description
Design by Susan Phillips McMeekin, presentation drawing for rotating photo frame depicting the Masjid al-Haram mosque and Ka'aba, pencil and gouache on tracing paper with black backing paper, Britain, c. 1990
Physical description
Presentation drawing for a mechanised rotating photo frame depicting buildings in Mecca. The frame consists of a gold onion shaped case, topped with a crescent moon and depicting the Masjid al-Haram mosque, set upon a malachite base. To the right there are two diagrams. One showing the case opening to reveal the frames inside which are decorated with Islamic architecture. The other showing the rotation mechanism.
Dimensions
  • Height: 33.9cm
  • Width: 29.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Susan K Phillips McMeekin - Des RCA. FRS.' (Inscribed in pencil; below design)
Credit line
Given by Susan Phillips McMeekin
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Association
Summary
Susan Phillips McMeekin is a British designing goldsmith and a Freeman of the Goldsmiths Company, best known for designing high-end objects for Royalty and Heads of State during a career spanning some fifty years. Originally trained in jewellery design and silver smithing at the Royal College of Art, she has applied the techniques of jewellery design to a range of luxury objects, including clocks, gold boxes, pens, handbags, lamps, tableware and objets d'art. McMeekin has been self employed throughout her career, and has designed for McCabe McCarty (now David McCarty Ltd.) since 1977. Many of McMeekin's commissions come from clients in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar. Her work is characterised by the use of gold and precious stones, Plique-à-jour enamel, and the inclusion of mechanised moving parts. She frequently includes imagery taken from the natural world and conducts extensive research into the flora and fauna of the local region before including it in her designs.

McMeekin makes extensive preparatory drawings before executing each piece. Her work includes private roughs, drawings communicating instructions to the craftsmen who execute her designs, and highly-finished gouache presentation drawings.

This mechanical rotating photograph frame was designed by McMeekin for a client in Saudi Arabia. It depicts the Masjid al-Haram mosque and the Ka'aba and was made of 18 carat gold, diamonds, and enamel on a malachite base.
Collection
Accession number
E.213:1, 2-2015

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Record createdJune 17, 2015
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