A West Australian Colonial micro mosaic brooch by Hooper, c.…
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A West Australian Colonial micro mosaic brooch by Hooper, c.1890's. Thecircular foliate design micro mosaic is bezel set with a fine gold rope border (the mosaic has a slight A/F). Diameter 28 mm, with safety chain stamped 'HOOPER 9ct'. Note: William C. Hooper was a goldsmith in Fremantle having premises on high St in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The front of his premises advertised that he was a 'Watchmaker & Jeweller, diamond Merchant & Importer - established 1881.' Hooper made the trowel for the laying of the foundation stone of the Perth Stock Exchange by Sir John Forrest in 1896. Made of 9ct gold, jarrah and with a swan finial. It is now in the collection of the WA Museum reference: gold & Silversmithing in Western Australia by Dr. Dorothy Erickson, pages 54-56

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  • Finial - An architectural decoration, found on the upper parts of of an object. On furniture they are usually found on pediments, canopies and shelf supports. On smaller ceramic or silver items, such as spoons, they may decorate the top of the item itself, or the lid or cover where they provide a useful handle for removal.

    Finials have a variety of shapes and forms. They may be urn-shaped, baluster shaped round or spiral, but usually taper into an upper point. Many real life shapes may also be used as finials, such as pineapples, berries, pinecones, buds, lotus and acorns. Sometimes animals such as a lion are depicted, or fish and dolphins.
  • Jarrah - A eucalypt, known by its aboriginal name jarrah, it grows only in the south-west of Western Australia. The timber is a dark red-brown in colour with similar grain and colouring to mahogany and was used extensively in house construction as well as for making furniture.
  • A/f, as Inspected - The letters "A/F" or "as inspected" as part of a description is the cataloguer's shorthand for "all faults" or "as found", meaning the item has some type of damage or deficiency, it is of uncertain date or provenance, and/or that the seller takes no responsibility for the completeness of the item or the accuracy of the description.
  • Foliate - Decorated with leaves or leaf-like forms.
  • Bezel - On a clock or watch, the bezel is the metal frame into which the watch or clock glass is fitted. In clocks, the bezel may include a hinge and a flange, in effect a door to the face of the clock. In jewellery the bezel is a band of metal with a projecting lip that holds the gemstone in its setting.

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