Description
A wonderful miniature enamel dog portrait by the esteemed miniature portraitist William Bishop Ford...originally this was a tie pin/cravat pin/stick pin, but has been carefully converted into a charm pendant... Crafted of yellow gold testing between 15K & 18K (marked 18K), the bezel set miniature portrait is done in enamel, featuring the dignified face of a beautiful Dog....as I've seen this referred to as a Staffordshire Terrier, a Great Dane, a Chocolate Lab & a Weimeraner. The reverse is counter enameled & signed by the artist, & dated 1879. A tiny gold loop bail & oval shaped jump ring of 14K gold is present at the top of the bezel. William Bishop Ford (1832 - 1922) was a painter of miniature enamels, including portraits of Prince Albert & Edward VII. He was a student & assistant to William Essex, who specialized in miniatures of dogs & other animals. Ford exhibited at the Royal Academy & his work is also on display at the Victorian & Albert Museum. Still in very good antique condition, with only slight wear near the nose/mouth of the dog, the painting is done on a lightly domed surface, with the open backed bezel allowing the signature & date to be seen. There are gold hallmarks on the back & side of the setting, though they don't completely correspond to the marks in my resources. (I have tested the gold.) Slight impressions remain at the top back of where the branches from the pin stem once attached. The dark areas in my photos are actually just reflections. With a total drop length of approximately 7/8 of an inch (23.2 mm), the diameter of the piece including the bezel is just over 5/8 of an inch (16.2 mm) On my scale, the pendant weighs 2.39 grams. Please visit my shop to see other antique dog & animal pieces, as well as other types of special antique & vintage jewelry...and follow me on Instagram for first peek at my new finds: www.franziska.etsy.com @franziska_vintage_jewels Antique William Bishop Ford Enamel Dog Pendant in 15K To 18K Gold - Miniature Portrait 1879
