Artist:Charles T. GrosjeanTiffany & Company
Medium: Gilt silver and enamel
Geograhical Locations:
Dates:1878–1879
Dimensions: 2 1/2 x 3 1/4 x 3/4 in. (6.4 x 8.3 x 1.9 cm)
Collections:
Museum Location: Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor
Exhibitions:
Accession Number: 1991.101.1
Image: 1991.101.1-2_SL3.jpg,
Catalogue Description: Napkin clip, gilt silver and enamel, in the form of a butterfly. Attached to the thorax are two spring-hinged wings which, when compressed, open the legs and underbelly of the thorax along a wavy line and spring back to clasp napkin. On thorax, front, is stylized head, the lower part of which, at neck, is formed by a crown, which sits atop the Mackey coat of arms (three horizontal dots above two horizontal bars) in a shield. Below and to the sides of the shield is a banner with the motto: ET DIEU MON APPUI. From the banner depend tendril-like elements that form the interlocking monogram MLM (for Marie Louise Mackey). On under side of the thorax there is a cast-incised spiral at the head and three pairs of legs arranged along open seam. On both obverse and reverse of each wing is an intricate, inlaid, polychrome enamel pattern in which the color fields are separated by cloisonné wires. In the upper part of each wing surface is a vaguely pear-shaped section of pale yellow ground. At the base is a stylized clover blossom with pale yellow center and blue dots. This blossom is surrounded by three serrated, interwoven, spiraling leaf forms in blue with white star dots; along lower, outer edge is half of a stylized blossom in dark red. The ground graduates from a dark purple at inner area to speckled amber at outer area of wing. Lower section of each wing surface is a leaf shaped section of enamel partially outlined by serrated, pale yellow border. At base is a stylized white blossom with red center. This blossom is surrounded by three serrated interwoven leaf forms in blue with white dots; a partial stylized blossom in red peeks out from behind one blue leaf; there is a small blue dot at top of wing. The ground graduates from a dark purple at inner area to a speckled amber at outer area of wing. En suite with 1991.101.2. CONDITION: Gilt slightly worn; otherwise excellent.