An Arts & Crafts enamel pendant

An Arts & Crafts enamel pendant the central oval enamelled plaque depicting fish, frog, butterfly and waterlily, within a foliate stylised mount, signed 'FJS' for Frederic James Shields, approximately 4cm long

Provenance:

By repute, presented as a gift to Sylvia Webley (circa 1886-1968) by Howard Carter (1874–1939, British archaeologist and Egyptologist who discovered the intact tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun in 1922) after her husband Samuel Webley (1877–1956) had gifted a painting to Carter at an exhibition of his works in London. The pendant was presented during an event at the Royal Academy, where Carter took a liking to one of Webley's paintings. Webley pioneered the use of decorative iridescent panels in the 1930s, painting in a pointillist manner over panels gilded with gold.

Samuel & Sylvia Webley (and their two daughters, January 1928)

Sylvia (lower right) can be seen wearing the pendant.

A contemporary newspaper article under the headline 'American Purchasers' states regarding the exhibition "His portrait of Mrs F. M. Millard, of Bath, the first of its kind to be painted by this method [referring to Webley's proprietary method of translucent underglaze metallic finishes] attracted much admiration. Sales have been excellent, and five of the panels are to go to America ... Mr. Howard Carter, Egyptologist of Luxor fame, was one of the visitors to the exhibition, the remaining portion of which has been removed to the Brook Street Galleries." Samuel Webley was a very generous man who regularly gifted paintings to those who admired them.

Footnote:

Frederic James Shields (1833–1911) was a British artist, illustrator, and designer closely associated with the Pre-Raphaelites through Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Ford Madox Brown. Shields also undertook the design of three-dimensional objects of applied art. Several artefacts, designed, painted and signed by Shields are known, including designs for stained glass and mural decorations for the Chapel of Eaton Hall, Cheshire.

Condition Report:

Chip to enamel at 11 o'clock, wear and losses to silver mounts, lacking chain