Bernard Instone (1891-1987) was a very interesting British jeweller, designer and silversmith of the early 20th century. Instone was born in Birmingham and his artistic talent was evident from a very early age. He was only twelve years old when he won a scholarship to the School of Jewellery. His mentor was the famous jeweller and figure in the British Arts and Crafts movement, Arthur Gaskin, with whom he studied silversmithing from 1904 to 1912.
After leaving school, Instone worked for a time in the studio of the famous jeweller John Paul Cooper, and then studied in Berlin with Emil Lettre, court jeweller to Kaiser Wilhelm II. In October 1913, he returned to England and began teaching at the School of Jewellery and at the same time began to produce his first independent works. In 1920, he founded his own jewellery and silversmith workshop, Langstone Silver Works.
This brooch, like other early works by Instone before he found his own distinctive style, shows the influence of his teachers Arthur Gaskin and John Paul Cooper.
Instone’s true inspiration was nature. His brooches often resemble bouquets or wreaths, with gemstones acting as flowers, and the elongated hand-made silver leaves that frame them are now considered his signature. Another distinctive feature of Instone’s work is the use of enamel. Many of his pieces are decorated solely with enamel, without the use of gemstones. And yet, his jewellery “bouquets” have a special charm. His favourite gemstones were citrines and amethysts.
A respected jeweller and prolific designer, Instone became president of the Birmingham Jewellers and Silversmiths’ Association in 1937. In addition to creating his own designs, Instone made jewellery for other jewellers such as Sybil Dunlop. These pieces were marked with Sybil’s mark: “SD”.
Beginning in the 1940s, Bernard Instone’s clientele included Liberty, London’s largest department store.
Instone’s two sons continued the family business when he retired in 1963 and moved to the Cotswolds, where he continued to design.
