Description
An absolutely quintessential Art Nouveau brooch by William B Kerr & company, an American silver jewelry & flatware company of Newark, NJ , est. 1853. This beauty is fully marked with the Wm B Kerr hallmark which is a Roman fasces axe with X's on the rod bundle. It is also marked Sterling & includes the design number 1273. This piece has beautiful organic details with the maidens tresses done in a whiplash fashion. Kerr were contemporaries of zinger, both were known for their beautiful Nouveau silver fine in the French style which was so fashionable at the time. De rigeur. This is a lovely all original art nouveau piece in very good condition. You will see on the back a patch that is original to the manufacturing process. in some of these art nouveau hollow work brooches sometimes Reinforcements were added to the back in the event that a piece might have a casting flaw or weak point & they might put a patch to reinforce the area. As this can only be seen from the back it in no way affects the beauty of the piece or the value. An absolute exquisite example of Art Nouveau or Belle Époque jewelry from the turn of the 20th century period circa 1900 to 1905. It is all original with a tube hinge & large "C" clasp. It measures 2 3/8" by 2 1/4". Simply divine! Art Nouveau William Kerr Sterling Lady Brooch
