Description
This is one of the famous silver ballerina brooches designed by Frederick Massingham for the retailers D.H. Phillips. It is a registered design no. 8851564. Massingham did a number of different designs – larger, smaller and in pairs. Some brooches and some earrings. This one has the Birmingham Hallmark for 1947. (They range from 1947-1949.) Some of Massingham’s work is displayed in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. I am sure it is not a coincidence that the film The Red shoes – starring Moira Shearer – was the 6th most popular movie in the U.K. in 1948. A clever piece of marketing! These are always popular in the shop and I usually have a few examples. This one is one of the bigger ones at approx. 3 inches – top of hand to bottom of foot. The pin is not silver and is has a C clasp.
Ref: 3076 C69/39
