Gold, star sapphire, enamel and diamond parure, Carlo Giuliano, circa 1890

Comprising a cross pendant and chain, a bangle-bracelet, a bar brooch and a hair comb, the hinged bangle set with a star sapphire  surrounded and flanked by old European-cut diamonds, further decorated with black and white champlevé enamel, the inside bearing the inscription: Matilda Blanche Gibbs, born Nov. 20, 1888, died Jan. 14, 1889, the balance of the suite similarly decorated with star sapphires and diamonds and enamel, the chain decorated with baton candy-twist links, length 15½ inches, the bar brooch reverses to a glazed locket compartment, the hair comb designed as a coronet and accented with piqué enamel, bangle, pendant, cross and chain signed C.G, hair comb has a later-added brooch fitting. With original fitted gilt-embossed leather case signed C. Giuliano, the reverse with an inscription.

Mrs. William Gibbs, Tyntesfield, Somerset

Mrs. Henry Martin Gibbs, Barrow Court, Somerset

Captain and Mrs. Peter Gibbs

Bonhams, November 26, 1993, lot 89.

Castellani and Giuliano, Revivalist Jewellers of the Nineteenth Century, Wartski, London, March 1984, no. 124.

The original case for this lot, made by Guichard, is stamped on the underside: This Cross was made for Mrs. William Gibbs, of Tyntesfield, Somerset, who left it to her Daughter-in-Law, Mrs. Henry Martin Gibbs, of Barrow Court, Somerset, for whom the rest of this set was made. 

William Gibbs was head of Anthony Gibbs and Sons, a prosperous importing firm. He and his wife Matilda Blanche had seven children and eighteen grandchildren who marked important family occasions with gifts from their favorite jewelers.