A Fine Mid 20thC Scottish Silver & Agate Hardstone Bracelet, Hallmarked for The Ward Brothers, Glasgow 1957
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Origin: Scottish
Period: Mid-Twentieth Century
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1957
Open Length: 10 inches including chain (approx)
Closed Length: 8 inches (approx)
Set with fourteen various agate hardstones in greens, blues, oranges, whites, blacks and reds, some banded or scalloped, set on seven shaped links. Although having been slightly over cleaned verso, there are full hallmarks on one link for Ward Brothers, the Glasgow mark followed by the Lion rampant, Scottish thistle mark and the date letter for 1957. The remaining links are all marked with the date letter and Glasgow mark.
In super overall condition, there is no loss to report to either the silver links, or the stones themselves, with only two of the stones with very slight hairline cracks, whilst the locking mechanism on the clasp is still in working order.
Glasgow silversmiths The Ward Brothers produced jewellery from the nineteenth century and were originally based in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Moving to Birmingham to increase production, they produced Scottish designs with brilliant faceted stones.
Popularised by Queen Victoria when she had a passion for all things Scottish, no gemstone is more creatively striped by nature than the agate. Formed in concentric layers in a wide variety of colours and textures. each individual agate forms by filling a cavity in host rock resulting in the banding and differing textures and colours, evident in this piece of jewellery.
A gorgeous piece of vintage jewellery, by a top maker, that is sure to appreciate in every sense of the word.