Elizabeth Copeland

Detroit Institute of Art, Detroit, MI
Cranbook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, IL
Sotheby, Parke-Bernet, New York, The Cranbrook Collections, May 2-5, 1972, lot 27
Private Collection, New York
Sotheby's New York, December 17, 2004, lot 394
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Overall in very good condition. This box has been closely examined under blacklight and there are no visible signs of prior restoration. All of the enameled panels are intact and stable. There is a small and minor loss to the enamel (1/4 inch in diameter) on a circular green element located in the central rear register of the lid. The enameled surfaces with some occasional light surface scratches and abrasions to the areas of highest relief commensurate with age and gentle use. With some minor areas of separation to the silver walls surrounding the outer borders of the enameled panels. The silver surfaces throughout are fully tarnished in a very consistent appearance, with some gentle rubbing, surface soiling and minor discoloration consistent with age and gentle use. With some minor traces of a white surface residue in some of the recessed contours. Some edge contours of the silver box are very slightly uneven, but this may well be inherent in the making as the box was hand constructed. The underbase with several old small felt pads and with a small paper label. All of the applied silver wire and decoration is intact and undisturbed. A beautiful exceedingly rare example distinguished by its impressive scale and presence, and superb enamel decoration and color play. The colors of the enamel decoration are slightly more subtle and nuanced than seen in the catalogue illustration, which is slightly over saturated and too red.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

After having trained in enameling in England, Elizabeth Copeland returned to her native Boston and worked for the Handicraft Shop which provided an outlet for the works of Arts & Crafts silversmiths in Boston.  Her intricate designs with precise detailing and a hand-crafted aesthetic garnered much praise, and her work was featured in several articles in The Craftsman, including a 1903 article that stated, ''Miss Copeland's work shows great vigor and simplicity of treatment and a style quite her own'' (Henry W. Belknap, ''Jewelry and Enamels,'' The Craftsman, June 1903, p. 180).  The October 1911 issue of the same magazine featured the heavily illustrated "Rich Designs for Metal Jewelry Boxes" which discussed Copeland's production processes.  She presented her works at various Arts & Crafts exhibitions from 1901-1927, winning a bronze medal in the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco and receiving a medal for excellence from the Boston Society of Arts and Crafts in 1916.