This year, Fortnum & Mason celebrate the tenth anniversary of their world class, jewellery room.
Inspired by this occasion, and fuelled by a recent meeting with Fortnum’s archivist, this was the perfect opportunity to design and curate a tenth anniversary collection. Entitled ‘10’ A Timeline Collection, we walked Fortnum’s costume jewel timeline for ourselves, drawing upon key themes from the archives and the last century.
From the 1930s, Fortnum’s sold costume jewellery in response to the emerging European obsession with ‘faux’; a revolution pioneered by couture icons Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli, to adorn their creations.
During the twentieth century, Fortnum’s customers would find jewellery displayed in the Fashion and Gift Departments; it wasn’t until 2013 a dedicated jewellery room was opened, and as you’d expect, to great acclaim.
Designing the timeline collection to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of this wonderful room was a joy. We walked the art deco period of the 1920s through to the 1990s. Diving into Fortnum’s history and learning from their illustrous archive exhibits was a wonderful inspiration for the collection. The themes chosen for the ‘10’ colleciton included charms, pearls, Royalty & The Coronation, couture designers, art deco design, dress clips, statement gold jewels and eye-catching brooches. Each theme connecting with a point in time during the last 100 years of Fortnum’s remarkable history.
The team at Fortnum’s chose several of the themes to launch the collection this month and here’s a closer look at how Fortnum’s jewel timeline inspires them.
Charming Charms
Perfect Pearls
Royalty and The Coronation
With Fortnum’s long association with Royalty (the first Royal Warrant was granted in 1910 by Queen Alexandra) coupled with this being the year of The Coronation it is a perfect time to celebrate our Royal Family and our new King. Our jewels include a golden double headed lion cuff, a miniature jewelled crown pin with pearl droplets and a bow brooch in the style of that worn on many occasions by our late Queen, Elizabeth II.
The Couture Room
What a privilege it has been to design a collection that pays homage to Fortnum and Mason’s jewel archive and to continue their jewel timeline with vintage finds that connect with their rich and world-famous heritage. All in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Fortnum & Mason Jewellery Room. A wonderful place!
Do visit, ‘10’ A Timeline Collection, if you are able and indeed enjoy perusing all of the wonderful jewels in the Jewellery Room on Level 2, Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1A 1ER. Their incredible and knowledgeable team will be delighted to help, irrespective of your intention. Perusing or purchasing, nothing, it seems is too much trouble.
Read more about our journey with Fortnum & Mason, London.