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| Necklace of Enameled Plaques and Gold Phoebe Traquair Scotland, 1905 This and all related images from: The Victoria & Albert Museum |
The early Twentieth Century Scottish artist Phoebe Traquair (1852-1936) was known for her impressive embroidery, murals and illuminated manuscripts as well as her delicately painted enamels.
Traquair described her work as both “epic” and “lyric” with the former being large scale pieces such as tapestries and hangings and the latter being small-scale pieces and jewels. After learning enameling from Lady Gibson Carmichael at Castlecraig, Phoebe considered enameling her favorite art form, replacing even her beloved medium of book illustration.
Influenced by medieval and Renaissance pieces, manuscripts and designs, Phoebe Traquair created vivid foiled enamel scenes, based on religious and mythological themes. This necklace is an excellent example of her enamel work. Constructed of enameled plaques set in gold and connected by gold chains, the necklace depicts a mermaid surrounded by ships, whales, fish and sea creatures. The reverse is dated 1905 over a floral scene and it is believed that Phoebe made the piece in Edinburgh.
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