Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu to include the personal archive of Louis Osman, goldsmith and architect

A late Victorian memorial ring for the book illustrator Kate Greenaway, the 18ct gold ring centred with a glazed hairwork panel within black enamel border, and between black enamel shoulders with gold scrollwork detail, the underside engraved ‘Kate Greenaway b March 17.1846, d November 6.1901’, shank fully hallmarked for Chester, 1902 and bearing maker’s mark ‘WHR’, ring size S (leading edge). £300-400

Kate Greenaway (or Catherine Greenaway) (17 March 1846-6 November 1901) was a Victorian children’s book illustrator and writer. Daughter of a successful draftsman and wood engraver, she studied graphic design and art between 1858-69. Her first book “Under the Window” was an instant best seller and bought her immediate fame, and was followed by numerous highly successful publications. At the same time as her writing career, she excelled as a watercolourist, working with illustrators Walter Crane and Randolph Caldecott. Her distinctive old fashioned style depicting children and young ladies dressed in early 19th century costume in quaint settings, a style of grace and charm that transformed the children’s book market, her talent described by Walter Crane as “captivating the public in a remarkable way”.

See: M. H. Spielmann and G. S. Layard: Kate Greenaway London: Adam and Charles Black, 1905.


Image from Little Ann and Other Poems, illustrated by Kate Greenaway.