Lot Details
Lot 256
A William Tolliday Vari-Colored Gold Castle of St. George and The Dragon
London, 1970
Set upon an amethyst crystal geode, the white and yellow gold castle a representation of The Chateau de Saumur, a drawbridge spanning a gorge to a bridge house, the path leading to the dragon's lair. St. George, in full armor battling the dragon. A plaque at the base engraved ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON BY WILLIAM TOLLIDAY MCMLXX Height 10 1/4 inches (26 cm).
Provenance:
Garrard, London, July 1970
Illustrated:
Gifts by Garrard: The Crown Jewelers, cover, c. 1970
Beginning in the late 1960s, William Tolliday, a jeweler and goldsmith gained renown for his extraordinary detailed and fantastical fairy castles created from precious metals, gemstones, and natural minerals. Tolliday's creations were promoted exclusively by Garrard, where Tolliday maintained a studio. His work in miniature was painstaking; each castle took several months to produce. Tolliday's castles were eagerly sought by Middle Eastern, European and American clients and were always limited in number. As such, they rarely are offered at auction today. The castles were often based on famous landmarks. Here, Tolliday selected the Chateau de Saumur, which was famously depicted in the illuminated manuscript Les tres Riches Heures du duc de Berry.
C
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