Featured Pin looks like a trellis with pearls?

At least i think they are real pearls. It is about 2 1/2" x 2 1/4".
Just thought i would show it here just in case.
Mikey

 

What an interesting piece. Is there a maker's mark in the center on the back? I can't quite make it out.

 

freshwater?

 

This is really unusual! I've never seen anything like it before.

 

It does look like a mark but i couldn't tell either.

 

Here's a close-up of it, if it helps??? Let me trim around and turn it around-second one!!



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Thanks @Aquitaine . It does look like a mark. Maybe someone will recognize it

 

Hm. I think it says V&A. I'm wondering if it's a piece from our museum. It's based on something: William Morris?

 

I was wondering that too!.
Looks like you are spot on.

 

That's what I was thinking too.

 

Cool! So what does that mean?

 

No reason to think they are not real freshwater pearls. Probably once sold in the V&A gift shop & based on something in their collections.

 

Oh, So like the things in the MMA store. Copies of original pieces.

 

Copies of pieces or designed using details from a piece, sometimes in another medium.

 

Met pieces have come from wall paintings, sculptures, furniture carvings, etc.

 

I think this one is wallpaper. https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/wallpaper

 

I agree I saw V&A also. Wanted to see if others posted it. Good eye OBB might be a trellis of moon flowers.

 

Nice find and identification!

FWIW (if anything)... the Art Institute of Chicago currently is running an exhibition titled "Morris and Company: The Business of Beauty." https://www.artic.edu/exhibitions/9325/morris-and-company-the-business-of-beauty

 

Leaves are wrong for convolvolus/moonflower. They're rose leaves if anything. But designers != botanists.

 

They did what looked good, and what they knew how to paint. It didn't have to be accurate since no one was grading.