Edwardian Limoges Enamel Portrait Brooch
Striking antique brooch featuring a Limoges enamel portrait centre with typical metallic colours for the clothing and soft detailing to the face and hair. An ornate pearl and diamond border frames the portrait beautifully, crafted in 9 carat gold and silver with a hidden bail for wear as a pendant. Circa 1910.
The city of Limoges, in south-west central France, has been known for producing some of Europe's finest enamelware since the 1100s. In the early 20th century, the workshop of Camille Fauré sparked a revolution, breaking from tradition with a series of modern, experimental designs and techniques that altered the cities output forever. Fauré began his creative career as a sign painter, pivoting from painted signs to enamelled signs to, ultimately, the more lucrative world of decorative arts, each time taking the skills he'd learned and applying them to the new discipline. In 1920, Fauré went into partnership with Alexandre and Henriette Marty, the trio sharing a common desire to explore the new modernist styles and pioneering a technique whereby different layers of enamel were built up on top of one another prior to firing to create a unique, sculptural effect. Faure's enamels were applied over copper, with different metal foils added to create iridescent effects, luminous colours, and unusual textures, as seen on the woman's clothing and headwear.
Era: Edwardian, circa 1910
Size: 3.1cm diameter
Stones: Pearl and diamond
Marks: None, tested as 9ct gold and silver
Condition: Great antique condition. The brooch fittings have been replaced at some point. Small crack to one edge of the enamel
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Gemstones are tested by an accredited gemmologist (Cert GA, Gemmological Association of Great Britain)
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Condition
We offer detailed and accurate condition reports on each listing. These pieces are antique, vintage, or pre-loved, often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff/scrape are quite normal... it's part of their charm! Everything we present has been checked over by our jeweller and should be good for wear for many years to come (unless otherwise stated) but please remember to treat them with appropriate care and consideration for their age.
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