Lot 1472
A large citrine cross pendant
Auction: 20 September 2023 at 11:00 BST
Description
Attributed to Ernest Rothlisberger (1888- 1964), set with graduated oval and pear-shaped citrines, engraved detail, suspended from a belcher link chain with hook-clasp; stamped to reverse ERN ROTHLISBERGER
Dimensions
Length of pendant: 12cm
Footnote
This citrine cross pendant is perhaps one of the best examples of Ernest Röthlisberger’s (1888-1964) catalogue of works. Certainly, one of the more interesting points to note about Röthlisberger is his seeming variety of pieces. Born July 18, 1888, Röthlisberger was trained as a goldsmith. His works are unlike many artists who stick to a specific style or school and then endeavour to perfect their craft. While there is evidence of his goldsmith training, many of his seminal works are rather table silverware and services. In addition to this pendant being a relatively rare example of Röthlisberger-made jewellery, this piece also showcases the unmistakable design preferences of the peak of Röthlisberger’s metalworking career. In fact, there are claims that Röthlisberger was trained by Charles L'Éplattenier at La Chaux-de-Fonds in Neuchâtel. L'Éplattenier was most well-known for his development of the Swiss branch of the Art Nouveau movement known as Style Sapin, of which influence is evidenced in the scrolling engraving and scalloped collet-set citrines on the Röthlisberger pendant. L'Éplattenier was also responsible for training such artists as Charles-Édouard Jeanneret better known as Le Corbusier. Clearly Röthlisberger was part of this formative artistic movement and school, however, despite his artistic achievements he was best known in his community for his career in the Society of Friends of the Arts of Neuchâtel. His focus on furthering the artistic enrichment of his community would appear to be the contributing factor to his relatively limited output and accounts for the infrequency of his pieces appearing in auction. This pendant is a brilliant and unique example of an artist’s experimentation with a new school of design and style in combination with the onset of an investigation into a new material practice.