A Nelson and Edith Dawson gold and enamel brooch

Price range: Reserved

For sale is this is very lovely brooch by Nelson and Edith Dawson.  The brooch is made of of 15 carat gold (XRF tested) which holds a really marvellous enamel plaque on copper depicting what I think are wild roses or Japanese quince. The gold surround of the brooch is beautifully worked with applied leaves, presumably wild rose leaves, or ivy.  A classic Edith Dawson enamel in an unusual Dawson setting. The enamel is not signed, but the gold back is scratch inscribed ND 1909 for Nelson Dawson. The Dawsons’ pieces often used only Nelson’s ND initials (including the registered silver mark) despite the now well reported and major contribution of Edith to their pieces, especially enamels.

This is refined piece with beautiful quality workmanship.  Condition is very good and original with a very small loss of enamel to the top right corner.

Nelson Dawson and Edith Dawson, were two of the earliest designers of arts and crafts metalwork.  Their work appeared in the 1896 Arts and Crafts Society Exhibition and they received Royal Commissions.  In 1902 they founded the Artificers Guild. Leaving that in around 1905 they continued to make superb metalwork, and occasional jewellery up to about 1920.  Edith Dawson, Nelson’s wife, was the enameller and likely also made pieces like this.

Maker: Nelson and Edith Dawson

Designer: Nelson and Edith Dawson

Date : c. 1909

Marks: Unmarked, signed “ND”

Material: 15 carat gold, enamel, silver pin

Condition: Very good – see description

Size: Width, 3.5 cm, height 2.5 cm

Weight: 10 grams (not all gold weight)