AN EDWARDIAN AMETHYST, ENAMEL AND PEARL NECKLACE

From 1908 the Women's Social and Political Union adopted the colour scheme of purple, white and green: purple symbolised dignity, white purity and green hope. These three colours were used for banners, flags, rosettes and badges and in the same year Mappin & Webb, the London jewellers, issued a catalogue of suffragette jewellery in time for Christmas.

In 1909 the WSPU presented specially commissioned pieces of jewellery to leading suffragettes Emmeline Pankhurst and Louise Eates. Some Arts and Crafts jewellery of the period also incorporated the colours purple, white and green using enamel and semi-precious stones such as amethysts, pearls, and peridots. However, jewellery that incorporated these stones was already quite commonly used during the late 19th century.