Item number: G3

Year: AD 1981

Material: Silver-Gilt

Size: 70.7 x 47.6 mm

Weight: 187.95 g

Provenance: Private Collector, UK, 2017

This is a Silver-Gilt surprise egg, crafted in AD 1981 by Stuart Devlin, an Australian artist renowned as both a sculptor and a goldsmith. Devlin’s surprise eggs are exceedingly rare, with fewer than one hundred ever produced, each containing a unique design and intricate decorations within. When asked about his creative motivation, Devlin explained: “The objects which have no function whatever, except to delight, to surprise, to intrigue – made entirely for enjoyment.”

Devlin’s statement reveals a creator who, despite his well-established reputation within the industry, retained a profound sense of childlike wonder and a genuine passion for the act of creation. This philosophy underscores the essence of his artistry, emphasising the pursuit of joy and fascination rather than functionality.

The exterior of this surprise egg resembles a traditional egg, though its shell is adorned with grooves of varying depths and textures. On its circular base, the markings “MADE IN ENGLAND” and a silver purity hallmark are prominently displayed. A closer examination of the base reveals additional hallmark details: at the top, Stuart Devlin’s personal maker’s mark, “SD”; on the right, the lion passant symbol of the London Assay Office, indicating English origin; on the left, another lion motif, signifying that the item is made of sterling silver with a purity of at least 92.5%; and at the bottom, the cursive letter “G,” representing the year of production, AD 1981.

When the egg is opened, the interior reveals a carefully crafted scene: a small black mouse hiding within a triangular wedge of cheese, its head and tail playfully emerging. This charming detail exemplifies Stuart Devlin’s artistry in his surprise egg series, where he skillfully captures the whimsical essence of small animals as envisioned through human perception.

In addition to the cheese-loving mouse, Devlin’s series features other delightful vignettes, including a rabbit nestled among flowers, a frog mid-leap on a lotus leaf, and a squirrel holding a flower. Each creation showcases his meticulous craftsmanship and exceptional ability to imbue his works with charm, imagination, and lifelike personality.

Stuart Devlin was born in AD 1931 in Geelong, Australia. At the age of 17, he graduated from technical college, where he acquired knowledge and skills in the design and craftsmanship of gold and silver ornaments. In AD 1966, with a mindset of “having nothing to lose,” Devlin achieved remarkable success as the youngest artist selected to design coins for the Australian government. Following this achievement, Devlin went on to design coins for more than 30 countries, finding great joy in knowing that his creations circulated in the pockets of people worldwide.

In AD 1958, Stuart Devlin was invited to teach at the Royal College of Art in London. By AD 1965, he had established his own workshop in London, where he continued to create exceptional works of art. In AD 1982, he was appointed as the official goldsmith and jeweller to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, a testament to his unparallelled craftsmanship and artistry.

Devlin’s career reached another milestone in AD 2000 when he was honoured with the task of designing the medals for the Sydney Olympics. Recognised as a national treasure for his contributions to sculpture and design, Stuart Devlin passed away in AD 2018 in the United Kingdom at the age of 86.

物件編號: G3

年代: 公元 1981 年

材質: 銀鍍金

尺寸: 70.7 x 47.6 mm

重量: 187.95 g

來源: 英國私人收藏 2017

這是一顆製作於公元1981年，出身自澳洲身兼雕刻家和金銀匠身分的斯圖爾特·德夫林精工打造的銀鍍金驚喜蛋。出自德夫林的驚喜蛋數量不超過一百顆，每一顆裏面都藏著不同的巧思和裝飾。德夫林回答他的創作動機是：「用以取悅和令人驚訝和好奇，此外就沒有任何的目的了，我完全是為了享受才創作這些作品。」德夫林的回答讓我們看到一名創作者，即便在業界已經享有盛名，卻仍能深刻感受大師的童真和樂於創作的初心。

這枚驚喜蛋外觀上就像一枚雞蛋，不過外殼表面有許多深淺不一的凹槽。而在圓形底座有製造地「MADE IN ENGLAND」(英格蘭製造) 和銀純度戳記。再觀察底座的周圍，分別在上方是斯圖爾特·德夫林姓名戳記「SD」，右側的倫敦檢驗局獅子正臉圖騰，左側的獅子代表器物的銀純度至少達到92.5%，下方的花體字「G」是公元1981年的年份戳記。

打開蛋殼能看到內部的底座有一隻躲在三角形起司裡面，露出頭和尾巴的黑色小老鼠。在驚喜蛋系列中，德夫林細緻地呈現小動物在世人眼裡的印象，除了這件吃起司的老鼠，還有躲在花叢裡的兔子、在荷葉上跳躍的青蛙和捧著花朵的小松鼠等有趣的作品。

公元1931年，德夫林出生於澳洲吉朗，於17歲畢業於高職習得金銀飾品的加工設計知識。公元1966年，德夫林抱持著沒有什麼可以失去就去嘗試的心態，成功以最年輕的入選者身分獲選為澳洲政府設計硬幣。此後德夫林還替三十幾個國家設計硬幣，並且十分享受他的作品能在各國人們的口袋流通的樂趣。

公元1958年，德夫林受邀前往倫敦的皇家藝術學院授課。公元1965年，以倫敦為基地開設自己的工作坊，並且在公元1982年得到時任英國女王伊莉莎白二世指定為金工和珠寶的皇家供應商。公元2000年，德夫林更接下替雪梨奧運設計獎牌的殊榮。公元2018年，作為國寶級雕刻家的德夫林逝世於英國，享年86歲。