Beschreibung:

EIGHT VARIOUS CHINESE GILT-COPPER MOUNTED SEMI-PRECOUS STONE AND JADIETE BUCKLES/BROOCHES QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY Comprising: six brooches converted from buckles, set with various polished precious and semi precious gem stones, with foiled or coloured backs, including jadeite, tourmaline, amethyst, rock crystal, in gilt metal settings, some with polished serpentine backings, together with a further brooch set with a polished amethyst on a blue ground, and a buckle set with a stained polished quartz, in a fitted padded case Provenance: Dame Edith Sitwell DBE (1887-1964). Exhibited: National Portrait Gallery, London, 1994, The Sitwells and the Arts of the 1920's and 1930's, p. 151, 4.40 Catalogue Note: The present lot was more famously worn in her portrait by Horst P. Horst in 1948. It has been suggested the 'semi-precious brooches may have been a gift brought back from China by Osbert in 1934' others suggest that Edith bought them in Cameo Corner, the place she bought much of her other jewellery. Condition Report: All but one of the buckles are now converted to brooches, some of the gilding has been rubbed, varying levels of gilding remain on the brooches, one brooch attachment has broken off to the example that has blue and pink foiled stones. Marks to the reverses where original attachments have been removed. one of the serpentine backings has been broken. A beaded section is missing from the buckle. The case has signs of wear and use, splitting along the hinge Condition Report Disclaimer