Antique English Arts & Crafts 15K, Amethyst & Emerald Brooch

The founders of the Arts & Crafts Movement were some of the first major critics of the Industrial Revolution. Disenchanted with the impersonal, mechanized direction of society in the 19th century, they sought to return to a simpler, more fulfilling way of living. The movement is admired for its use of high quality materials and for its emphasis on utility in design. The Arts & Crafts emerged in the United Kingdom around 1860, at roughly the same time as the closely related Aesthetic Movement, but the spread of the Arts & Crafts across the Atlantic to the United States in the 1890s, enabled it to last longer - at least into the 1920s. Beautifully crafted in a rich, deep yellow 15 karat gold, this rectangular brooch has an openwork frame, with flowering vines in the negative spaces. A glorious, glowing purple cabochon rests in the center, with four leafy green emeralds in each corner. A fabulous little treasure that embodies the Arts & Crafts aesthetic perfectly! Circa 1900 Details (Approximate): Dimensions: 1" Weight: 5.1 grams Materials: Gold, Amethyst, Emerald Metal: 15K yellow gold Marks: None Condition: Excellent Antique condition commensurate with age and wear