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Iona Silver and Enamel Annular (Marriage) Brooch - Alexander Ritchie - "May All Your Days Be Happy"
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Reference: S1520
Period: George VI
Year: 1948
Silversmith: Darby & Sons (For Alexander Ritchie)
Place: Birmingham
Price: $ 250.00
Weight: 15 grams
Dimensions: 4.7 cm diameter
Condition: Excellent, enamel perfect, no chips, and pin in full working order.
Description: A rare silver and green enamel annular brooch designed by Alexander Ritchie, the famous Iona silversmith. The brooch has a Gaelic inscription "A h-uile latha sona dhuit", translated "May all your days be happy". These brooches are traditional wedding presents to celebrate a marriage. The Alexander Ritchie website (see our links page) shows 2 similar brooches, one in blue and the other in red enamel, both are described as rare, they do not show a green enamel example. Ritchie began to use the Birmingham assay office in 1931, and he had close links to the Birmingham firm of Darby & Sons, who made items for him. After Ritchie's death in 1941, some of his original moulds were used by Darby until the 1950's, this is one of these (see Ritchie website). The hallmarks are small but visible, the pin is also hallmarked.
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Alexander Ritchie annular brooch
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Alexander Ritchie - May all your days be happy
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Iona silver brooch - back view
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Alexander Ritchie silver - scale
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Iona silver - hallmarks
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