Lot 376
Iona - a Scottish provincial pendant and necklace
Auction: 16 August 2010 at 15:00 BST
£1,500
Description
by Alexander Ritchie, marked AR, IONA, the pendant drop with displayed bird within arched surround of purple enamel, suspended from a double fine belcher link chain with knot work fancy link spacers with purple enamel central sections
Dimensions
pendant 50mm wide, overall length 28cm long
Footnote
Notes: for a similar version in light blue enamel see 'Iona Celtic Art, the work of Alexander and Euphemia Ritchie' by E. Mhairi MacArthur plate 9b.
While enamel work would form a large part of Ritchie's higher end work in jewellery, purple is a color very rarely seen, the standard patterns feature shades of blue, and occasionally red and yellow but this attractive shade seems to have been rarely used.