A British Arts & Crafts 18k gold, enamel and moonstone dragonfly necklace with original case of Liberty & Co.
Designed as a delicate strand of elongated links, six slightly graduated stylised dragonfly motifs and a two-part pendant. Finely picked out in blue and turquoise enamel, the slightly opened wings in shimmering transluscent blue plique-à-jour. Set with six small oval moonstone cabochons; the large pendant with two fine moonstones (c. 20.5 x 15.7 x 6.48 mm and c. 24.8 x 12.21 x 4.08 mm), one oval cabochon cut, the other in a smooth droplet form. With spring ring clasp. Marked "PARTRIDGE" on the edge of the mounting of the central moonstone. With minor older soldered repairs. L 42 cm. Weight 44.58 g. In the original fitted gilt embossed leather case, the lining stamped "Liberty London - Paris".
James Frederick Partridge, London, c. 1900.
The English goldsmith and Arts & Crafts craftsman studied at the Birmingham Municipal School of Art and was a member of the Barnstable Guild of Metalworkers before joining C. R. Ashbee and the Guild of Handicraft Ltd. Around 1910 he opened a workshop in London with his wife May, who specialised in enamelling. He also supplied, among others, the renowned department stores Liberty & Co. James Partridge was called "the British Lalique" because of his outstanding goldsmith's work, which, like our necklace, clearly shows the influence of French Art Nouveau. The Victoria and Albert Museum in London owns two works by him that he made for his daughter in 1928 (brooch M.14-1976; ring with amethyst M.15-1976); a brooch (1981M400) is in the Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery.
Literature
Illus. in Bennett/Mascetti, Understanding Jewellery, Reprint 2011, 222, Plate 299.