Brooch
1940 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Dense concentrations of precious stones were characteristic of the jewellery of the 1920s and 1930s. They were ranked together in geometric patterns and held by the most delicate and discreet platinum settings.
This brooch, in the form of a clip, was commissioned by Ernest Schwaiger for his wife, the actor Adele Dixon (1908-1992).
She was best known for appearing in West End and Broadway musicals and British musical films of the 1930s and 40s. She also had the honour of being the first performer in the original BBC high-definition television broadcast in London on 2 November, 1936. She performed a speciallly commissioned song called 'Television' whose first verses went:
'A mighty maze of mystic, magic rays
Is all about us in the blue,
And in sight and sound they trace
Living pictures out of space
To bring a new wonder to you'
Ernest Schwaiger worked for the firm of Cartier which was founded by Louis-François Cartier in Paris in 1847 and became one of the most glamorous jewellery firms of the twentieth century.
This brooch, in the form of a clip, was commissioned by Ernest Schwaiger for his wife, the actor Adele Dixon (1908-1992).
She was best known for appearing in West End and Broadway musicals and British musical films of the 1930s and 40s. She also had the honour of being the first performer in the original BBC high-definition television broadcast in London on 2 November, 1936. She performed a speciallly commissioned song called 'Television' whose first verses went:
'A mighty maze of mystic, magic rays
Is all about us in the blue,
And in sight and sound they trace
Living pictures out of space
To bring a new wonder to you'
Ernest Schwaiger worked for the firm of Cartier which was founded by Louis-François Cartier in Paris in 1847 and became one of the most glamorous jewellery firms of the twentieth century.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Platinum set with diamonds |
| Brief description | Diamond and platinum clip by Cartier, made in England, London, 1940 |
| Physical description | Clip in the shape of an inverted triangle composed of angular platinum ribbons set with brilliant- and baguette-cut diamonds. At the centre are seven larger diamonds, with two further large diamonds towards the left and right corners, and a diamond at the bottom corner. The two-pronged pin at the back is mounted with a spring and can be locked into position by a catch. Formerly part of a double clip. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | Cartier, London
|
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Mr and Mrs Ernest Schwaiger |
| Object history | Commissioned for his wife, the actress Adele Dixon, by Ernest Schwaiger, who worked for Cartier, London. |
| Summary | Dense concentrations of precious stones were characteristic of the jewellery of the 1920s and 1930s. They were ranked together in geometric patterns and held by the most delicate and discreet platinum settings. This brooch, in the form of a clip, was commissioned by Ernest Schwaiger for his wife, the actor Adele Dixon (1908-1992). She was best known for appearing in West End and Broadway musicals and British musical films of the 1930s and 40s. She also had the honour of being the first performer in the original BBC high-definition television broadcast in London on 2 November, 1936. She performed a speciallly commissioned song called 'Television' whose first verses went: 'A mighty maze of mystic, magic rays Is all about us in the blue, And in sight and sound they trace Living pictures out of space To bring a new wonder to you' Ernest Schwaiger worked for the firm of Cartier which was founded by Louis-François Cartier in Paris in 1847 and became one of the most glamorous jewellery firms of the twentieth century. |
| Bibliographic reference | 'Jewels and Jewellery' Clare Phillips, V&A Publications, 2000
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.36&A-1994 |
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| Record created | January 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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