This 9ct rose gold brooch is extremely rare example of Rhoda WAGER. The brooch is stamped WAGER on the back and is in excellent condition 27mm x 27mm in size. On a personal note this is the first gold piece I have seen outside the Power House Museum collection. Rhoda Wager (1875-1953) came to Australia in 1918 from Britain via Fiji and produced distinctive wirework Arts Crafts jewellery in Sydney until retiring in 1946. Her niece Dorothy Judge, nee Wager (1912-2001), worked with Dorothy from 1928, and continued in the same style after Rhoda retired.
Rhoda studied at the famous Glasgow School of Art from 1897 to 1903 and exhibited jewellery at the Glasgow Art Club in 1901. She was a member of the Glasgow Society of Lady Artists and showed regularly at their exhibitions. Rhoda continued her training in jewellery design and manufacture under Bernard Cuzner, and prior to departing England she conducted jewellery classes herself, including teaching Mary Thew.
Rhoda and Dorothy were prolific and produced over 12,000 pieces during Rhoda’s career. Their style became synonymous with Australian Arts Crafts jewellery and was often copied by other local silversmiths. To find a piece of her work in gold is extremely rare. It measures 25mm in diameter