The founders of the Arts & Crafts Movement were some of the first major critics of the Industrial Revolution. Disenchanted with the impersonal, mechanized direction of society in the 19th century, they sought to return to a simpler, more fulfilling way of living. The movement is admired for its use of high quality materials and for its emphasis on utility in design. The Arts & Crafts emerged in the United Kingdom around 1860, at roughly the same time as the closely related Aesthetic Movement, but the spread of the Arts & Crafts across the Atlantic to the United States in the 1890s, enabled it to last longer - at least into the 1920s.
Beautifully crafted in a rich, deep yellow 15 karat gold, this rectangular brooch has an openwork frame, with flowering vines in the negative spaces. A glorious, glowing purple cabochon rests in the center, with four leafy green emeralds in each corner. A fabulous little treasure that embodies the Arts & Crafts aesthetic perfectly!
Circa 1900
Details (Approximate):
Dimensions: 1"
Weight: 5.1 grams
Materials: Gold, Amethyst, Emerald
Metal: 15K yellow gold
Marks: None
Condition: Excellent Antique condition commensurate with age and wear