Posted 7 years ago
Gazelle
(1 item)
Hi, I have just inherited this from Scottish Grandparents. It’s very tarnished but has all the usual trademarks
I’m convinced it’s Mary Thew. What are your thoughts?
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Ohhhh ... think you might be on the money there. Any chance of a photo of the back?
Thew was a prolific maker, lots of her work continues to be unidentified. And although this looks a bit slap dash and random, she was quite a complement jeweller who took time to create a solid and well balanced structure. You can often see that from the back.
She also used this colour combination. I have seen at least two of her brooches with this combination of stones.
I have to agree with Jewels1900, lovely brooch thanks for posting.
Thank you jewels1900, and peasejean55. I’ll get a photo of the back. There aren’t any markings and I read that she often didn’t mark... Not sure. But I love it regardless! :)
Very rarely marked. Sometimes with a T in dots. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/scottish-arts-crafts-brooch-mary-thew-476690015
Hi, it's really gorgeous, and so intricate in design and construction. And inherited directly from Scottish relatives. It's such a shame you couldn't ask them about it in the past and get the direct provenance.
Can I ask, have you silver dipped it since you took the first photo, or is it just bright lighting in the second? I ask because the back looks bright and clean and the front has the lovely dark patina of age.
The stones are close backed and possibly foil backed to enhance the colour. Please don't clean it, and certainly don't immerse it in liquid if you do, or you may dull / discolour them irreparably.
Best wishes
Great, thank you all for your thoughts and advice. :)
The back is consistent with Thew. I absolute agree with Sightseer. Do dip or wet this brooch in anyway. A light polish with a silver cloth occasionally will keep it pristine.
Oh! Nice heirloom! Jewels1900 is our Arts and Crafts era Guru!
Both her advice and Sightseer's are very judicious for the cleaning!
Welcome to CW, I'm always delighted to see another antique jewellery lover :-D
Its so lovely to see my great grandmothers work still circulating! I have only recently come to know she was a beautiful jeweler!