The Portland Moth Brooch by Melanie Tomlinson
This design was created especially for The Harley Gallery Shop, and was inspired by the historic Portland Collection.
We commissioned Melanie to create brooches inspired by Margaret Bentinck, 2nd Duchess of Portland. Margaret was an exceptional 18th woman whose vast collections of natural history objects were rival to none.
The brooches are based on The Portland Moth (Actebia Preacox), named after the Duchess.
“I visited the natural history museum to see the Portland moth before creating intricate designs in paint. The designs are then hand printed onto tinned steel, cut into shape and finished by hammering, together. The metal gleams through the design giving each moth a jewel like intensity.”
- Hand made from printed tinned steel
- Exclusive design for The Harley Gallery Shop
- Brooch pin back
Melanie Tomlinson has developed a highly specialist technique for printing onto tinned steel, which she uses to create jewellery, sculpture and community projects. You may recognise her work from ITV Creates. Her exhibition Ghost Horses and Guns showed at The Harley Gallery in 2019 and 2020.
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