Plum blossom thumbnail 1
Plum blossom thumbnail 2
+2
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A Dundee
Scottish Design Galleries, V&A Dundee

Plum blossom

Brooch
2017 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Anna Gordon’s approach to jewellery is one of calm and measured minimalism. She is, she explains ‘interested in drawing and the quality of the drawn line’, and sees her jewellery as ‘a sketch on the body… often with an element of movement’. In this set of four brooches the linear focus of her early work remains present in the tightly controlled structure of the pieces, while her fascination with pattern created from repeating elements is explored anew through abstracted forms from nature.
The plants chosen for this series of four brooches are those referred to in Chinese art as the Four Gentlemen: orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum and plum blossom.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Plum blossom (assigned by artist)
  • Four Gentlemen of China (series title)
Materials and techniques
oxidised silver and mother of pearl
Brief description
'Plum blossom' brooch (Winter), oxidised silver and mother of pearl, part of the set of brooches 'Four gentlemen of China' designed and made by Anna Gordon, Scotland 2017
Physical description
A brooch of nine stylised blossoms arranged three by three in a square. The blossom flowers, made of mother of pearl discs backed with oxidised silver, have three flat lower petals and two angled upper petals. The flowers are individually attached by a single pin to a lattice behind, enabling them to rotate. A steel pin with two prongs attaches at the back.
Dimensions
  • Height: 62mm
  • Width: 59mm
  • Depth: 16mm
Marks and inscriptions
AG and Edinburgh hallmark for 2017 on a circular plaque attached to the back of the central flower
Object history
Exhibited at Contemporary Applied Art, London in the exhibition 'Bloomin' Jewels' curated by Corinne Julius, 27 April - 3 June 2017
Summary
Anna Gordon’s approach to jewellery is one of calm and measured minimalism. She is, she explains ‘interested in drawing and the quality of the drawn line’, and sees her jewellery as ‘a sketch on the body… often with an element of movement’. In this set of four brooches the linear focus of her early work remains present in the tightly controlled structure of the pieces, while her fascination with pattern created from repeating elements is explored anew through abstracted forms from nature.
The plants chosen for this series of four brooches are those referred to in Chinese art as the Four Gentlemen: orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum and plum blossom.
Collection
Accession number
M.39-2017

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdOctober 18, 2017
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest