Brilliant Boodles jewels at Lady Lever Art Gallery

Dazzling artistry in precious stones and metals is on show in an exhibition at the Lady Lever Art Gallery which celebrates Liverpool jewellers Boodles.

Pure Brilliance: The Boodles Story reveals the firm’s 224-year history and how Liverpool has shaped the brand which has gone from being a family jewellers to purveyors of some of the most stunning jewels in the world.

The company’s foundations lie in the opening of a jewellers’ shop in Liverpool in 1798 by the Kirk family under the name Boodle and Dunthorne. In 1911 it merged with H Wainwright and Sons. The company became known simply as Boodles around 15 years ago.

Beautiful historic jewellery from Liverpool makers and racing trophies made by Boodles illustrates the early years of the firm, while the company’s rise from city jeweller to the pinnacle of high-end design and manufacture is shown through contemporary jewellery on display.

Above: Boodles' Songbird and Waterfall necklace. Photo by Robin Clewley.

Alyson Pollard, head of the Lady Lever Art Gallery, said: “Each jewellery piece is really a unique work of art.

“As a celebration of beauty, the exhibition features examples of work by 19th Century Liverpool jewellery makers as well as jewellery by Boodles.

“The exhibition shows how this Liverpool family firm, previously known for many years as Boodle and Dunthorne, became a world leading brand. The jewellery on display is luxurious and the intricacies of jewellery design and manufacture can be explored.”

Pure Brilliance: The Boodles Story is at the Lady Lever Art Gallery until March 5.