Glasgow School of Art pendant

Arts & Crafts gem-set pendant
Glasgow School of Art - Scotland
Circa 1900

Glasgow School of Art pendant, 15 carat gold, circa 1900, marked on the back GSA and 15ct. The stones are tourmalines of varying shades, and aquamarines. Unusual to get a signed piece.

The pendant is 2.5 inches long and 2 and 1/4 inches wide and the integral chain is 16 inches long.

The Glasgow School of Art was at the center of the Arts and Crafts movement in Scotland, promoting painting, jewelry making, metal work, stained glass etc.

The Scottish movement occurred in the late 1880's and 90's, more than 20 years after Morris had established his first shop in London. The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) was the center of the Arts and Crafts movement in Scotland. Four key figures, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Herbert MacNair, Margaret and Frances MacDonald were known as 'The Four' who together created the vision which became world famous as the Glasgow Style. A good summary is here:

http://www.artscrafts.org.uk/branches/glasgow.html

Dear to my heart, is that women had a significant place within the Glasgow School:

The Glasgow Girls were a group of female designers and artists including Margaret and Frances MacDonald who were members of The Four (see above), Jessie M. King, Annie French, Jessie Wylie Newbery, Ann Macbeth, Bessie MacNicol, Norah Neilson Gray,[4] Stansmore Dean, Eleanor Allen Moore, De Courcy Lewthwaite Dewar, Agnes Banks Harvey (silversmith) [5] (Antiques Roadshow Episode 34-35, St Andrews University), and Christian Jane Fergusson. May Wilson and Eliza Bell (among others) continued the tradition of ceramic artistry into the 1940s and 1950s by hand painting various items with floral patterns.

Women were able to flourish in the Glasgow school because there was a "period of enlightenment" that took place between 1885 and 1920, where women were actively pursuing art careers and the school had a significant period of "international visibility." In addition, many Glasgow School of Arts students and staff were very involved in women's suffrage. "Students took turns between classes stitching up banners" for the movement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_School#The_Glasgow_Girls