$3,437
Gothic Revival 18kt Gold and Oxidized Silver Pendant, Froment-Meurice, c. early 1850s, depicting a crusader taking leave of his lady, attended by pages, against an elborate scrollwork screen and glass panels, 2 5/8 x 2 3/8 in., French guarantee stamp. Note: Illustrated in Jewelry From Antiquity to the Present, Claire Phillips, p. 145. Francois-Desire Froment-Meurice was foremost among Revivalist jewelers, and is credited by many as being the first to introduce historical themes, forms and techniques. Further, his designs displayed a freedom of style unpracticed before, drawing unconstrainedly from diverse sources of inspiration. In the period from 1840 to 1860, and at the Great Exhibition of 1851, Froment Meurice produced and exhibited work that was characterized by the romantic period influences of naturalism, medievalism, and fantasy. As in this example, his jewelry was often architectural in form and ornament. His work also shows advances in technical design. For example, according to Phillips, the firm's figurative jewelry such as this was particularly fine because Froment-Meurice employed sculptors to do the work of modeling, and then scaled the figures down to size. Froment-Meurice's Gothic and Renaissance Revival work became well known throughout Europe, and the firm's royal patrons included Victoria and Albert. Froment Meurice there is a slight break to the mount on the bottm columnar element, visible in the image, small repair to the other side at symmetircal Read more…
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2009-09-15
