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Liberty 18ct White Gold Moonstone and Diamond Brooch

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    Posted 8 years ago

    Peasejean55
    (413 items)

    Recently I bought this wonderful brooch, I have been doing some research and I think it Is Liberty & Co brooch.
    If you look at the hallmark there is a L & unfortunately the last mark is worn, but I believe it to be Liberty & Co.
    I been in contact with a person I know, for advice, I sent him the photos and he also believes it is Liberty brooch. He believes it's a commission piece, he also told me it would a good idea to get in contact with Liberty & Co to see if there are any records.
    A little bit about the brooch, it as a hallmark for Birmingham and was made in 1912. The stones are diamonds and it as a lovely blue Schiller moonstone in the middle. It's is marked 18 ct white gold which I was told was unusual for Liberty. The the catch was a C clasps originally but I was told that the roller catch was probably added later as a safer method.
    This is wonderful brooch, I was very lucky to buy it at a extremely reasonably price.
    Any comments would be very much appreciated.
    Many thanks for looking

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    Comments

    1. jscott0363 jscott0363, 8 years ago
      That is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
    2. antiquerose antiquerose, 8 years ago
      ~ WOWSER ~
    3. racer4four racer4four, 8 years ago
      Absolutely beautiful Jean.
      I hope you can get confirmation from Liberty.
    4. NevadaBlades, 8 years ago
      Fit for a queen. [;>)
    5. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      So beautiful Jean!!! I hope you can get confirmation too!
    6. pebble pebble, 8 years ago
      Stunning!
    7. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      Thank you everybody for your lovely comments above. I have sent a email to the V&A and Westminster archives, hopefully they may have some records. Also I had a interesting email from the person who gave me some advice, he believes that the brooch may have been rhodium plated during the 1950s to hide the resoldering off the the new clasp and give it a more modern look. Apparently a lot of Victorian and Edwardian jewellery was rhodium plated to update the look.
    8. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Hi Jean, thanks for the update and still keeping fingers crossed for you.
      That is interesting re the rhodium plating ......it certainly has not made it easy for research has it!!!!
    9. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      Hi TassieDevil, fingers cross I should get something back next week. I would dearly love to find out more about this brooch. Thanks for taking a interest.
    10. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      I did receive a email from the Westminster archives, unfortunately the archives they sent me were not very useful, so it looks a if I'm going to have to go London and delve into their archives.
      The note they sent reads as follows.

      Many thanks for your enquiry which has just been forwarded today. The mark appears to be 18 carat gold, Birmingham, 1912-1913. The brooch was designed to take a fitting to allow it to be suspended as a pendant or even possibly incorporated into a tiara.

      The principle Liberty archives are deposited at the City of Westminster archives centre.

      Http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/red/d703422a-ad39-41f5-85c0-27d13eb91ab6

      The National Art Library at the V & A has an extensive run of, as far as I can see, printed trade catalogues.

      Http://catalogue.nal.vam.ac.uk/ipac20.jsp?

      Unless you can find something similar on line, I am sorry that I think there is no alternative to your working through trade catalogues in case your brooch was not a special commission, or seeing if there is enough detail in the Westminster archives to be able to track down individual commissions.

      I've looked though both sites, alas I couldn't find anything.

    11. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Hi Jean, at least they were good enough to answer you!!
      How interesting about the pendant and tiara fitting!!! How spectacular would a tiara have looked!!!! I have only just noticed the odd looking fitting on the brooch in the bottom of your 3rd picture.......Is this what they are talking about?
    12. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      https://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fs-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com%2F564x%2F9c%2Fc6%2F22%2F9cc622dcfe478cf3398a3ff407d95ac1.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F524317581588192854%2F&docid=Bic3XLzZI16v_M&tbnid=ybdDiZEhkl-IQM%3A&w=564&h=451&hl=en-gb&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim
      Hi Judy, from what I was told from a person who is well known in the jewellery world, that In his opinion the hinge and clasp was a later addition. The link above shows you the frame with which they attach the necklace and probably brooches to make up the tiara.
    13. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Thanks Jean, it looks a bit complicated I think!! The owner of one of these , I guess, would have had a maid to take it apart and then put back together as needed.
      Keep chipping away with your research......I am sure you will find your Liberty confirmation.
    14. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      Thanks Judy, I can't do much more research here in Spain. I certainly need to spend a few days in London, I have a few pieces that I need to get more information about.
    15. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      Many thanks

      aura
      Scott
      Efesgirl
      vetraio
      kyra
      antiquerose
      Caperkid
      LOUMANAL
      fleafinder
      racer
      TassieDevil
      martika
      mikelv
      pebble
      melaniej
      BellaEpoque
      SEAN
      bratjdd
    16. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      A update on this brooch. I had an email from Westminster archive saying they have some archives for Liberty. Apparently Liberty are very secretive about the designers of their jewellery. I've ask for a researcher to look though the stretch book and the Liberty book for 1912, fingers cross they find out some information, I should know next week.
    17. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      My fingers are still crossed for you Jean!
    18. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      Update. Received email from Westminster archives, with all information. There is a piece in the sketchbook of jewellery designs (1900-1912) unfortunately I can't show this because of Liberty's secrecy policy. I still believe this piece is one off commission. I've sent the information to the V&A and hopefully I might be able to find the maker.
    19. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Hi Jean
      Well.....so the piece in the sketchbook is like your brooch?
    20. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      Hi Judy, exactly the same except it's a pendant. If you look at photo 3 at the bottom there is fixture with 3 holes, that is were the top of the pendant would have slotted into to, very clever. Its unfortunate that this part isn't there, but I probably wouldn't have bought this brooch if the fixture was attached I'm sure it wouldn't have been on eBay. I'm sorry I can't put the sketch on this posting but I could get into trouble, like I said above Liberty are very secretive about their jewellery. Thanks Judy for taking a interest, it's much appreciated. I don't know if I shall ever find the maker, one name that comes to mind is Jessie M King.
    21. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Thanks Jean, no, don't put the sketch on!!
      I am not quite understanding here Jean.......why can't you say then that because your brooch is in the Liberty sketch book, it was made by Liberty??? Or is it more complicated than that?? Or are you expecting to find it has been made by "whoever" to be retailed by Liberty???
      Don't know Jessie M King......will have a look, thanks!
    22. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      Hi Judy, The brooch/pendant is definitely Liberty there is no doubt about that. I have the ref no and page number and the sketch, which is great. I can use the sketch for research purposes only, Liberty as I said above are extremely secretive, I could get permission from Liberty.
    23. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Hi Jean, I think I have been misunderstanding !!! You are wanting to find the DESIGNER of your brooch for Liberty ......please tell me this is right lol!!
    24. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      Yes Judy, I've sent a the information to the V&A hopefully they might be able to tell me who the designer was. :-)
    25. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Thanks Jean, that's great!!.. look forward to the next installment!!
    26. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      I've just had a email back from the V&A basically saying I've done well to find a piece which has a Liberty record as well as its Liberty mark and hallmarks and I fear that you will not be able to take this further.
      Liberty exercised a strict policy of anonymity in respect of their designers, never acknowledged them by name in their catalogues.
    27. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Oh Jean, how disappointing for you after all that time and effort you have put in!!!!
    28. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      I know Judy, it is disappointing, I suppose it goes with the territory. You never know something else might turn up, at least I tried and I do have some documentation.
    29. TassieDevil TassieDevil, 8 years ago
      Now that you have done all you can Jean, just enjoy your Liberty brooch......you are very lucky to have such a beautiful piece!! :)
    30. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      Hi Judy, I'm really happy I did the research and I do have some documentation that shows this was a design of Liberty. I shall enjoy this brooch. Thanks for following my search, Judy.
    31. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      Many thanks

      katherinescollections
    32. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 8 years ago
      Many thanks

      bratjdd
      alliececile
      kiwipaul
    33. Peasejean55 Peasejean55, 7 years ago
      Well I’ve finally reverted this brooch back into a pendant. The jeweller who did the conversion was very upset with the way the previous person had made this into a brooch. This is the best that could be done, the bale is very secure and hinged.

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