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Victorian 15ct Gold, Enamelled Fox Brooch by William Essex

8T
Written by Olly Gerrish

A beautifully painted miniature in enamel by William Essex. (English, 1784-1869) Essex was a miniature portrait painter  known for crisp and detailed work in enamel, particularly portraits and paintings of animals. As a student he worked for Charles Muss who was the enamel painter to William IV.   Early in his career, he painted numerous miniature reproductions of larger works by early masters (mostly landscapes, animals and genre subjects). Later, he began painting miniature portraits of live sitters. He  exhibited in London at the Royal Academy of Art from 1818 to 1862.  He was appointed miniaturist to Queen Victoria in 1839 and to Prince Albert in 1841. He also served as enamel painter to Princess Augusta of Cambridge. Amongst his pupils were acclaimed miniaturists W. B. Ford and J. W. Bailey. Works by Essex are in the Victoria and Albert Museum (London), Ashmolean Museum (Oxford), National Gallery of Ireland (Dublin),  and the Cleveland Museum of Art (Cleveland, Ohio).  This little masterpiece of an enamelled wily fox head is Signed W Essex 1858 on the reverse and has a 15ct gold frame with a later secure rollover catch..

Item Number
8T
Measurements
Diameter 2.8cm
Materials
Date & Origin
Provenance
English
Hallmarks
Unmarked, tested to 15ct gold
Condition
Very Good, slight damage to gold frame on the reverse.
Discovered
3 years ago
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