FRED RICH (BRITISH 1954-) §
'ANGEL'S KISS' BEAKER
£2,268
Auction: MODERN MADE Part II | 01 November 2024 | Lots 80 to 444
Description
signed Fred Rich, stamped maker's mark and hallmarked for London, silver, yellow metal and cloisonné enamel with gilt interior, in original fitted box
Dimensions
10.2cm high (4in high), approximately 314 grams
Provenance
Acquired directly from the maker in October 2017;
Property of a Private Aficionado.
Footnote
Fred Rich wrote ‘the Angel’s Kiss beaker; it is one of my favourite pieces from the last couple of years… The inspiration for the piece came after a lecture from…a well known but local astronomer. It was a trip through inner and outer space…At the end of the lecture, as I understood it, it seems that all existence in the universe is contained within interfaces of concentrations of stars and galaxies…and that absolutely nothing exists in the voids between them. This gave me the inspiration for a web idea, with a star at each join, and I partnered this with an overall design of floating feathers which symbolise to me the touch or kiss of an angel, whether it be passing or a guardian. In this way I'm trying to convey the idea of a destiny for each and every one of us.
The piece is spun in sterling silver with applied fine silver and 18ct white and yellow gold. Everything is soldered on - the fine silver feathers are all carved and have 18ct yellow ribs and the white gold web is made up of sheet and wire. The stars are champlevé cut and enamelled in different shades of pink, and the background is hand cut in low relief to look a bit like soap suds. This is given a fine textured satin finish which contrasts well with the bright feathers and burnished gold wire. The piece was originally called ‘Angel’s Kiss with Pink Stars', but we dropped the pink stars and just called it ‘Angel’s kiss'.