Mid Century Modernist Norwegian Sterling & Enamel Leaf Shaped Brooch and Earrings With Vermeil Finish, by Willy Winnaess for David-Andersen

This is a highly collectible pale blue 1950s sterling and enamel brooch and earrings demi-parure set. Each piece is in the shape of a leaf and has leaf veins, has vermeil metal (gold wash over silver), and is decorated with basse-taille enameling (low relief designs cut into the metal, prior to the fixation of the enamel). The brooch has a C clasp and the earrings have clip backs. Each piece also has marks on its back that indicate that it is .925 sterling and that it was designed by Willy Winnaess, for the famed Norwegian jewelry maker David-Andersen. David-Andersen was founded in 1876, in Christiania (now Oslo), Norway. It began operating as a maker of gold and silver jewelry and other objects. At the beginning of the 20th Century, the use of enameling on the company’s gold and silver jewelry and hollowware was introduced. The new line was so successful that enameled jewelry became nearly synonymous with the company’s name. In the early part of the century, the most popular jewelry products were those with enameled butterflies and leaves. A gold wash on the sterling jewelry was also one of the company’s hallmarks. In the 1950s, the company used young innovative designers of Scandinavian Modernist silver jewelry, such a Willy Winnaess. Although Winnaess was famous and had his own Oslo workshop (from 1941 to 1978), he sometimes worked independently and sometimes designed for David-Andersen. A hallmark of his work was to use a basse-taille enameling technique on sterling. The brooch is 2 1/2 inches wide (not including the leaf’s stem) by 3/4 of an inch high (at its highest point, in the center). Each earring is 7/16 of an inch wide (at its widest point, in the center) by 1 inch high (not including the leaf’s stem). This set is in very good vintage condition, with no chips or cracks in the enamel and with earring clips and a pin that work well. The minor rubs on the gold wash on the backs of the items slightly expose the sterling on the backs. The gold wash that shows in the front (and around the rims) is bright.

$125.00

Shipping: 15.00