Late 19th century enamel and diamond Sweet Mignonette brooch by Tiffany & Co, designed by George Paulding Farnham for the 1889 Paris Exposition, this version made c.1890,
naturalistically modelled, the single spearhead type bloom covered with slender petalled flowers in green, orange and white enamel, accented by small leaves set with rose cut diamonds, larger leaves below set with round brilliant, cushion and single cut diamonds, mounted in gold and silver, the cut stem in gold with engraved markings, signed 'TIFFANY & CO' within the pin hook, accompanied by the original Tiffany & Co case.
Literature. Illustrated:
'Tiffany Jewels' by John Loring, Harry N Abrams Inc., Publishers, 1999, p.115
Showing a talent for creativity and artistry, George Paudling Farnham (1859-1927), known as Paul or Paulding, was taken on as an apprentice by his uncle, Charles T Cook, Vice-President and later President of Tiffany. Completing his training under the Chief Designer, Edward C Moore, Paulding spent the late 1880s creating jewellery to be shown as part of Tiffany's world-class collection at the 1889 Paris Exposition.
The 1889 Exposition Universelle coincided with the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille during the French Revolution. Farnham created approximately 24 life-size orchids and other floral jewels composed of enamel, silver and green gold that were accented with pearls and gemstones. The flowers were created by moulding unannealed silver into the exact shape of the flower in life and coating the form in specially blended and prepared shades of enamel. Farnham's collection received a gold medal in the jewellery division at the Exposition. In the report of the United States Commission to the Exposition, the orchid brooches were called "one of the most striking features of the entire Exposition." The Paris Herald praised the collection for its "boldness and originality of design" and the Jeweler's Circular complimented Farnham "to whose genius the [United States] is indebted." After the Exposition, Farnham designed more varieties of orchid and flower brooches for the private market that were sold at the New York store.
Length 5.9cm / 3½''Weight: 43g
19th century gold archaelogical revival brooch and earrings set by Tiffany, New York c.1870, the brooch with a tapering fringe of droplet ended batons, from an inverse gothic arch swing, below a wirework decorated geometric rectangle and square motif, the square oriented obliquely to centre topped by a dome, the earrings en suite with ball tops, unsigned but together with a case with worn stamp for ' ___ (Union) SQUARE // TIFFANY // NEW YORK'
Antique diamond flowerhead brooch by Tiffany, c.1900, with four petals each shaped collet set with a round brilliant of old European cut, smaller similar claw set to centre forming the stamen, graduated diamonds to the short cut stem, open set in gold, signed 'TIFFANY & CO', total diamond weight approximately 3.00cts
Art Deco diamond tree-of-life cluster clip brooch by Tiffany, probably American c.1925, of halo form centred by the stylised fan-shaped tree motif, to the middle a fancy half moon diamond and with baguette cut diamond 'trunk', openwork and with pierced detail, the rounded frame set with two lines of diamonds, squared off at the bottom hinged end, millegrain set with old brilliant, single and transition cut diamonds, mounted in platinum, signed 'TIFFANY & CO' and stamped 'IRID PLAT', approximately 4.50cts of diamonds in all
Late 19th century enamel and diamond Sweet Mignonette brooch by Tiffany & Co, designed by George Paulding Farnham for the 1889 Paris Exposition, this version made c.1890,