Price range: Sold

A rare Henry Wilson silver, amethyst and peridot necklace. The main feature of the necklace is the central drop containing a silver nightingale singing to a rose quartz moon.

Whilst the piece is unmarked sketches of all key components can be found within Wilson’s sketch book held by the V & A Museum.  See other images.  Additionally Wilson features this necklace design in his book Silverwork and Jewellery published in 1903, where  he describes his experience of seeing, hearing and drawing a nightingale at night.  The symbolism of the nightingale, and a bird singing to the moon, is widespread across many cultures and can stand for  purity, goodness, truth, resilience and love.

Henry Wilson (1864-1934) is a key figure in the later arts and crafts movement and as both an architect/designer and teacher. He was a leading figure in the establishment of arts and crafts style in jewellery and metalwork after c 1900.  He trained such figures as John Paul Cooper and George Henry Murphy.

He was born in West Derby, Liverpool. He studied at Kidderminster School of Art, Westminster School of Art, and the Royal College of Art before training in the offices of the architects, Edward Shrewsbury (to whom an articled pupil), John Oldrid Scott and John Belcher.

From 1888 Wilson was chief assistant to John Dando Sedding and after the latter died in 1891, he completed three important London churches. Wilson shared Sedding’s belief that it was the architect’s sacred duty to unite the crafts. He embodied this principle through the immense versatility of his practice. This included some highly innovative jewellery, a fine collection of which is in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

In the mid-1890s he moved away from built structures towards creating architectural metalwork and sculpture, and spent two years in a foundry learning professional techniques. His monumental and sculptural works include: the monument to Bishop Elphinstone at King’s College, Aberdeen (c.1910–31); and Coventry Council House (1912–1920) where he decorated the council chamber with carvings based on animal and plant life, Lady Godiva, and other historical figures with associated heraldry. His reputation as an outstanding modeller, was affirmed in later life by the great bronze doors for the cathedral of St John the Divine, New York (c.1930).

Wilson was also a committed teacher and was associated with W. R. Lethaby at the Central School of Arts and Crafts and at the Royal College of Art. From 1896 to 1901 he was the first editor of the ‘Architectural Review’.  He retired to Paris on the early 1920s and died in some poverty in Menton, France

Maker:  Henry Wilson

Designer:  Henry Wilson

Date: c. 1900

Marks: Unmarked

Material: Silver, amethyst, peridot, rose quartz.

Condition: Excellent

Size: Length 42 cm