Brands Jewelers

Jewelry Sibyl Dunlop

Silver and gold necklace with citrines and garnets, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1925
Silver and gold necklace with citrines and garnets, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1925

Sibyl Dunlop (1889 – 1968), British jewelry designer, best known for her work created in the 1920s and 1930s, which art historians refer to as the style of the late period of the ARTS & CRAFTS movement.

Dunlop was born in London and graduated from school in Brussels, where she became interested in jewelry design and trained in jewelry making. She set up a workshop and shop at 69 Kensington Church Street, London. In the early 1920s, William Nathanson joined as her chief craftsman. Dunlop’s work is characterized by the use of semi-precious and precious stones: chalcedony, chrysoprase, moonstone, amethyst, agate, quartz and opals, set in sterling silver with symmetrical patterns often inspired by nature.

Silver bracelet with moonstone, opal, amethyst, chalcedony, ruby, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1930
Silver bracelet with moonstone, opal, amethyst, chalcedony, ruby, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1930

The design of this bracelet is a typical example of Sybil Dunlop’s “carpet of gems” style: a repeating pattern of closely spaced stones that are set in single wall fixtures and hold adjacent stones. The stones are processed in unusual shapes: crescents, claws, rhombuses and triangles. By the mid-1930s, wide bracelets and necklaces were made in this way, as well as brooches with an intricate carpet of precious stones.

The company closed with the outbreak of World War II in 1939, and Sybil Dunlop never returned to work for health reasons. After the war, Nathanson continued to manufacture Dunlop jewelry and silver until 1971.

Sibyl Dunlop ‘s parents were from Scotland. In her designs, Celtic motifs are often guessed, as, for example, in this bowl. Its shape, reminiscent of our Russian cup, is made in the image of a traditional Scottish two-handled bowl, which is called a kueych, from the Gaelic cuach, which means a cup.

Carpet of Gems bracelet in silver with amethyst and chalcedony, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1930
Carpet of Gems bracelet in silver with amethyst and chalcedony,  1930
Celtic style bowl inlaid with chrysoprase, designed by Sybil Dunlop, Craftsman W. Nathanson, 1924-1925, V&A Museum, London.
Celtic style bowl inlaid with chrysoprase, designed by Sybil Dunlop, Craftsman W. Nathanson, 1924-1925, V&A Museum, London.
Silver brooch with opals, rubies and chalcedony, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1934, V&A Museum, London.
Silver brooch with opals, rubies and chalcedony, 1934, V&A Museum, London.
Silver brooch with amethyst and agate, SIBYL DUNLOP.
Silver brooch with amethyst and agate.
Pendant in silver with moonstone, pearls and chalcedony, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1930
Pendant in silver with moonstone, pearls and chalcedony, 1930
Brooch in silver with chalcedony and marcasite, length 7.5 cm, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1930
Brooch in silver with chalcedony and marcasite, length 7.5 cm, 1930
Silver pendant with doublet opal, amethyst and chalcedony, 9 cm high, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1925
Silver pendant with doublet opal, amethyst and chalcedony, 9 cm high, 1925
Silver ring with opal, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1925
Silver ring with opal, 1925
Necklace and earrings in silver with crystal, sapphire, ruby ​​and amethyst, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1930
Necklace and earrings in silver with crystal, sapphire, ruby ​​and amethyst, 1930
Silver ring with white, black and fire opal and sapphires, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1925
Ring with white, black and fire opal and sapphires, 1925
Silver bracelet with amethyst and chalcedony, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1930
Silver bracelet with amethyst and chalcedony, 1930
Silver brooch with opal, amethyst, tourmaline, emerald and sapphire, 6.3 cm high, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1930
Brooch with opal, amethyst, tourmaline, emerald and sapphire, 6.3 cm high, 1930
Silver brooch with amber, chalcedony, carnelian and pearls, 6.2 cm high, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1925
Silver brooch with amber, chalcedony, carnelian and pearls, 6.2 cm high, circa 1925
Necklace and pendant in silver with moonstone, amethyst and chalcedony, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1930
Necklace and pendant in silver with moonstone, amethyst and chalcedony, circa 1930
Brooch Sun and Moon in silver and gold with chalcedony, height 4.9 cm, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1930
Brooch Sun and Moon in silver and gold with chalcedony, height 4.9 cm, circa 1930
Silver ring with fire chalcedony opal, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1930
Ring with fire chalcedony opal, circa 1930
Silver bracelet with amethyst and chalcedony, circa 1930
Silver bracelet with amethyst and chalcedony, circa 1930
Silver Celtic Revival necklace, SIBYL DUNLOP.
Silver Celtic Revival necklace.
Silver pendant with amethyst and moonstone, 5.2 cm high, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1930
Pendant with amethyst and moonstone, 5.2 cm high, circa 1930
Silver brooch with precious stones, length 13 cm, SIBYL DUNLOP.
Silver brooch with precious stones, length 13 cm.
Silver pendant brooch with opal, chrysoprase and chalcedony, height 6.5 cm, SIBYL DUNLOP.
Silver pendant brooch with opal, chrysoprase and chalcedony, height 6.5 cm.
Jewelry cross made of silver with enamel and precious stones, SIBYL DUNLOP.
Jewelry cross made of silver with enamel and precious stones.
Jewelry set in silver with enamel, chrysoprase and chalcedony, SIBYL DUNLOP.
Jewelry set in silver with enamel, chrysoprase and chalcedony.
Silver brooch with amethyst, chrysoprase, carnelian and dyed blue quartz, 7.0 cm diameter, SIBYL DUNLOP, 1922
Brooch with amethyst, chrysoprase, carnelian and dyed blue quartz, 7.0 cm diameter, 1922
Silver brooch with opal, agate and sapphires, height 4.2 cm, SIBYL DUNLOP, 1965
Silver brooch with opal, agate and sapphires, height 4.2 cm, 1965
Silver goblet with emeralds, rubies and pearls, SIBYL DUNLOP, circa 1920
Silver goblet with emeralds, rubies and pearls, 1920
Silver coffee pot, height 23.5 cm, SIBYL DUNLOP, 1904
Coffee pot, height 23.5 cm, SIBYL DUNLOP, 1904
Silver bowl with amethyst insert, height 9.5 cm, SIBYL DUNLOP, 1909
Silver bowl with amethyst insert, height 9.5 cm, SIBYL DUNLOP, 1909
Silver box-chest with Celtic ornaments, length 16.5 cm, SIBYL DUNLOP, 1926
Silver box-chest with Celtic ornaments, length 16.5 cm, 1926