Brooch thumbnail 1
Brooch thumbnail 2
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images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

Brooch

ca. 1896 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

C. R. Ashbee was a man of immense talents and energy and a defining figure in the Arts and Crafts Movement. In 1888 he founded the Guild of Handicraft in the East End of London with the intention of reviving traditional craft skills and providing satisfying employment in a deprived area of the city. Trained originally as an architect, he is known also for his highly innovative furniture, metalwork, silver and jewellery designs.

Blister pearls like the ones used in this brooch were often favoured by Arts and Crafts jewellery designers. Not only were they less expensive than uniform pearls, their irregular shape produced interesting combinations of colour and texture.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Brooch of enamelled copper, silver, blister pearls and pearl drops
Brief description
Brooch of enamelled copper, silver, blister pearls and pearl drops, designed by C.R. Ashbee and made by the Guild of Handicraft, London, about 1896
Physical description
Brooch of enamelled copper, silver, blister pearls and pearl drops
Dimensions
  • Height: 7.3cm
  • Width: 7.7cm
  • Depth: 3.2cm
Style
Summary
C. R. Ashbee was a man of immense talents and energy and a defining figure in the Arts and Crafts Movement. In 1888 he founded the Guild of Handicraft in the East End of London with the intention of reviving traditional craft skills and providing satisfying employment in a deprived area of the city. Trained originally as an architect, he is known also for his highly innovative furniture, metalwork, silver and jewellery designs.

Blister pearls like the ones used in this brooch were often favoured by Arts and Crafts jewellery designers. Not only were they less expensive than uniform pearls, their irregular shape produced interesting combinations of colour and texture.
Collection
Accession number
M.43-1980

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Record createdJanuary 10, 2008
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