Jewellery case
Category
Jewellery
Date
Unknown
Materials
Collection
Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire
NT 495549.6.1
Summary
A jewellery case designed and made by Louis Osman (1914-96) for Mrs. Dorothy Jenkins. The case was specially made to house the gold opal parure created by Osman in 1972 and 1973. It is hewn from a single piece of yew taken from the grounds of Canons Ashby. Osman inlaid the natural imperfections in the yew with silver, a technique reminiscent of the Japanese art of kintsugi (joining with gold).
Provenance
Gold opal parure made by Louis Osman (1914-96) at Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire in 1972 and 1973 for Maurice and Dorothy Jenkins, the pieces set with opals purchased by Maurice Jenkins in Australia; fitted case made by Osman at a later date; thence by descent to Victoria, Toby and Claire Jenkins. Exhibited at Canons Ashby, May 1974. Consigned to auction at Noonans, Mayfair, 26 November 2024, lot 373 and purchased by the National Trust for Canons Ashby in 2024, with support from a National Trust fund set up by the late Simon Sainsbury.