Gold, turquoise, coral and enamel bird pendant-brooch, Carlo and Arthur Giuliano, designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, circa 1895

Estimate

40,000 - 60,000 USD

bidding is closed

Description

Designed as a dove perched on an olive branch applied in green and red translucent enamel, the feathers studded with round coral and turquoise cabochons, the legs accented with seed pearls, completed by a cabochon ruby eye, signed C.& A.G. With original fitted case signed C.& A.G.

Exhibited

Artists' Jewellery-Pre-Raphaelite to Arts and Crafts, Wartski, London, March 1989, no. 121.

Literature

Charlotte Gere and Geoffrey C. Munn, Artists' Jewellery, Pre-Raphaelite to Arts and Crafts, pp. 134-139.

Geoffrey C. Munn, The Triumph of Love, p. 62.

Catalogue Note

Designs for jewels in the form of birds perched in trees, created by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, presumably the preliminary designs for bird brooches made by Giuliano, are illustrated in Artists' Jewellery-Pre-Raphaelite to Arts and Crafts, p. 134. Despite the existence of numerous sketches for jewels made by Burne-Jones, the bird brooch design was, according to his wife, virtually the only one that was executed. According to Geoffrey Munn, three examples of this jewel have been traced, two made by Carlo Giuliano and the third, offered in this sale, made by Carlo and Arthur. The first example was a gift to Burne-Jones' daughter, Margaret, in about 1884. Another went to Laura, Margot Asquith's favorite sister, who died giving birth to a son in 1886. An example signed Carlo Giuliano was sold at Sotheby's London on June 21st, 1990, lot 55. The symbolism of the bird as messenger of Venus indicates that it may have been given as a nuptial gift.