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Details
A 19th century gold and enamel 'Artist's Jewel' given by A.W.N. Pugin to his third wife
Of openwork design composed of a modelled green enamel vase with white enamelled fleur-de-lis on a blue, white and dark green enamel disc with the legend Ave Maria Gratia Plena, ('Hail Mary Full of Grace') in black enamel, within a twisted wire border, circa 1850, diameter 42mm, fitted case
Of openwork design composed of a modelled green enamel vase with white enamelled fleur-de-lis on a blue, white and dark green enamel disc with the legend Ave Maria Gratia Plena, ('Hail Mary Full of Grace') in black enamel, within a twisted wire border, circa 1850, diameter 42mm, fitted case
Provenance
Given by Pugin to his third wife thence by descent
Literature
Cf. C. Gere and G. Munn, Artists' Jewellery Pre-Raphaelite to Arts and Crafts, Woodbridge, 1989, p.35, pl.15 for a similar brooch held in the collection of The Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery and notes stating that the design history of these very distinctive jewels remains speculative but they certainly stem from the inspiration of considerable talent of the order of A.W.N. Pugin. The brooch was purchased in 1886 and is part of the John Hardman Powell Archive
Further details
Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812-1852)
Born in London on 1st March 1812, the son of a French Architect, Pugin trained with his father making drawings of Gothic buildings for his father's books. His first designs independent of his fathers were for the firm of goldsmiths Rundell & Bridge. After a brief seafaring career he returned to architecture and set up a business selling historically accurate carved wood and furnishings to satisfy the increasing taste for Gothic style furnishings. The business eventually failed. When Pugin began work on buildings in Birmingham he met John Hardman Junior whom he convinced to change his button making business into a workshop for producing decorative metalwork and later stained glass windows. Hardman produced a range of products made to Pugin's medieval designs. Hardman's nephew John Hardman Powell joined the firm which subsequently became very successful, setting high standards of craftsmanship. Pugin was a committed family man and during his life married three times, his last wife, whom he married in 1848, wrote a journel of their life together which was later published. Pugin died on the 14th September 1852. His son Edward Welby Pugin (1834-1875) became an architect and designed Catholic churches. His eldest daughter married his assistant John Hardman Powell who became chief designer for the Hardman business.
Born in London on 1st March 1812, the son of a French Architect, Pugin trained with his father making drawings of Gothic buildings for his father's books. His first designs independent of his fathers were for the firm of goldsmiths Rundell & Bridge. After a brief seafaring career he returned to architecture and set up a business selling historically accurate carved wood and furnishings to satisfy the increasing taste for Gothic style furnishings. The business eventually failed. When Pugin began work on buildings in Birmingham he met John Hardman Junior whom he convinced to change his button making business into a workshop for producing decorative metalwork and later stained glass windows. Hardman produced a range of products made to Pugin's medieval designs. Hardman's nephew John Hardman Powell joined the firm which subsequently became very successful, setting high standards of craftsmanship. Pugin was a committed family man and during his life married three times, his last wife, whom he married in 1848, wrote a journel of their life together which was later published. Pugin died on the 14th September 1852. His son Edward Welby Pugin (1834-1875) became an architect and designed Catholic churches. His eldest daughter married his assistant John Hardman Powell who became chief designer for the Hardman business.
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