Posted 8 years ago
Peasejean55
(415 items)
Recently I bought this wonderful brooch, I have been doing some research and I think it Is Liberty & Co brooch.
If you look at the hallmark there is a L & unfortunately the last mark is worn, but I believe it to be Liberty & Co.
I been in contact with a person I know, for advice, I sent him the photos and he also believes it is Liberty brooch. He believes it's a commission piece, he also told me it would a good idea to get in contact with Liberty & Co to see if there are any records.
A little bit about the brooch, it as a hallmark for Birmingham and was made in 1912. The stones are diamonds and it as a lovely blue Schiller moonstone in the middle. It's is marked 18 ct white gold which I was told was unusual for Liberty. The the catch was a C clasps originally but I was told that the roller catch was probably added later as a safer method.
This is wonderful brooch, I was very lucky to buy it at a extremely reasonably price.
Any comments would be very much appreciated.
Many thanks for looking
That is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
~ WOWSER ~
Absolutely beautiful Jean.
I hope you can get confirmation from Liberty.
Fit for a queen. [;>)
So beautiful Jean!!! I hope you can get confirmation too!
Stunning!
Thank you everybody for your lovely comments above. I have sent a email to the V&A and Westminster archives, hopefully they may have some records. Also I had a interesting email from the person who gave me some advice, he believes that the brooch may have been rhodium plated during the 1950s to hide the resoldering off the the new clasp and give it a more modern look. Apparently a lot of Victorian and Edwardian jewellery was rhodium plated to update the look.
Hi Jean, thanks for the update and still keeping fingers crossed for you.
That is interesting re the rhodium plating ......it certainly has not made it easy for research has it!!!!
Hi TassieDevil, fingers cross I should get something back next week. I would dearly love to find out more about this brooch. Thanks for taking a interest.
I did receive a email from the Westminster archives, unfortunately the archives they sent me were not very useful, so it looks a if I'm going to have to go London and delve into their archives.
The note they sent reads as follows.
Many thanks for your enquiry which has just been forwarded today. The mark appears to be 18 carat gold, Birmingham, 1912-1913. The brooch was designed to take a fitting to allow it to be suspended as a pendant or even possibly incorporated into a tiara.
The principle Liberty archives are deposited at the City of Westminster archives centre.
Http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/red/d703422a-ad39-41f5-85c0-27d13eb91ab6
The National Art Library at the V & A has an extensive run of, as far as I can see, printed trade catalogues.
Http://catalogue.nal.vam.ac.uk/ipac20.jsp?
Unless you can find something similar on line, I am sorry that I think there is no alternative to your working through trade catalogues in case your brooch was not a special commission, or seeing if there is enough detail in the Westminster archives to be able to track down individual commissions.
I've looked though both sites, alas I couldn't find anything.
Hi Jean, at least they were good enough to answer you!!
How interesting about the pendant and tiara fitting!!! How spectacular would a tiara have looked!!!! I have only just noticed the odd looking fitting on the brooch in the bottom of your 3rd picture.......Is this what they are talking about?
https://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fs-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%2F564x%2F9c%2Fc6%2F22%2F9cc622dcfe478cf3398a3ff407d95ac1.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F524317581588192854%2F&docid=Bic3XLzZI16v_M&tbnid=ybdDiZEhkl-IQM%3A&w=564&h=451&hl=en-gb&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim
Hi Judy, from what I was told from a person who is well known in the jewellery world, that In his opinion the hinge and clasp was a later addition. The link above shows you the frame with which they attach the necklace and probably brooches to make up the tiara.
Thanks Jean, it looks a bit complicated I think!! The owner of one of these , I guess, would have had a maid to take it apart and then put back together as needed.
Keep chipping away with your research......I am sure you will find your Liberty confirmation.
Thanks Judy, I can't do much more research here in Spain. I certainly need to spend a few days in London, I have a few pieces that I need to get more information about.
Many thanks
aura
Scott
Efesgirl
vetraio
kyra
antiquerose
Caperkid
LOUMANAL
fleafinder
racer
TassieDevil
martika
mikelv
pebble
melaniej
BellaEpoque
SEAN
bratjdd
A update on this brooch. I had an email from Westminster archive saying they have some archives for Liberty. Apparently Liberty are very secretive about the designers of their jewellery. I've ask for a researcher to look though the stretch book and the Liberty book for 1912, fingers cross they find out some information, I should know next week.
My fingers are still crossed for you Jean!
Update. Received email from Westminster archives, with all information. There is a piece in the sketchbook of jewellery designs (1900-1912) unfortunately I can't show this because of Liberty's secrecy policy. I still believe this piece is one off commission. I've sent the information to the V&A and hopefully I might be able to find the maker.
Hi Jean
Well.....so the piece in the sketchbook is like your brooch?
Hi Judy, exactly the same except it's a pendant. If you look at photo 3 at the bottom there is fixture with 3 holes, that is were the top of the pendant would have slotted into to, very clever. Its unfortunate that this part isn't there, but I probably wouldn't have bought this brooch if the fixture was attached I'm sure it wouldn't have been on eBay. I'm sorry I can't put the sketch on this posting but I could get into trouble, like I said above Liberty are very secretive about their jewellery. Thanks Judy for taking a interest, it's much appreciated. I don't know if I shall ever find the maker, one name that comes to mind is Jessie M King.
Thanks Jean, no, don't put the sketch on!!
I am not quite understanding here Jean.......why can't you say then that because your brooch is in the Liberty sketch book, it was made by Liberty??? Or is it more complicated than that?? Or are you expecting to find it has been made by "whoever" to be retailed by Liberty???
Don't know Jessie M King......will have a look, thanks!
Hi Judy, The brooch/pendant is definitely Liberty there is no doubt about that. I have the ref no and page number and the sketch, which is great. I can use the sketch for research purposes only, Liberty as I said above are extremely secretive, I could get permission from Liberty.
Hi Jean, I think I have been misunderstanding !!! You are wanting to find the DESIGNER of your brooch for Liberty ......please tell me this is right lol!!
Yes Judy, I've sent a the information to the V&A hopefully they might be able to tell me who the designer was. :-)
Thanks Jean, that's great!!.. look forward to the next installment!!
I've just had a email back from the V&A basically saying I've done well to find a piece which has a Liberty record as well as its Liberty mark and hallmarks and I fear that you will not be able to take this further.
Liberty exercised a strict policy of anonymity in respect of their designers, never acknowledged them by name in their catalogues.
Oh Jean, how disappointing for you after all that time and effort you have put in!!!!
I know Judy, it is disappointing, I suppose it goes with the territory. You never know something else might turn up, at least I tried and I do have some documentation.
Now that you have done all you can Jean, just enjoy your Liberty brooch......you are very lucky to have such a beautiful piece!! :)
Hi Judy, I'm really happy I did the research and I do have some documentation that shows this was a design of Liberty. I shall enjoy this brooch. Thanks for following my search, Judy.
Many thanks
katherinescollections
Many thanks
bratjdd
alliececile
kiwipaul
Well I’ve finally reverted this brooch back into a pendant. The jeweller who did the conversion was very upset with the way the previous person had made this into a brooch. This is the best that could be done, the bale is very secure and hinged.