This circular brooch, containing a photograph of Emily Wilding Davison in academic dress, formerly belonged to her friend and champion, Mary Leigh. The photograph of Emily Wilding Davison (for the photographer/publisher of the postcard see here) is rather worn and has a little ink scribble on it – though what the intention – if any – of this is, I cannot say.
The photo is held in the brooch frame by a card showing Sylvia Pankhurst’s WSPU design, in purple, white and green, of ‘the sower’. This may originally been a component in a WSPU badge. Written on it in capital letters, in Mary Leigh’s idiosyncratic style, is ‘LIBERTY. NO SURRENDER. E.W.D.’.
This is a piece that, unlike so much else on the market, clearly merits the description ‘suffragette jewellery’. I do not think that this commemoration photo of Emily Wilding Davison was issued by the WSPU in this particular style of circular brooch, but suspect that Mary Leigh herself put the photo in it. The brooch is edged with alternating little pink and white stones. It is worth noting that Mary Leigh, even with her close acquaintance with WSPU imagery and branding, did not bother to select or commission a brooch with stones reflecting more closely the WSPU colours.
Woman and her Sphere 
#1 by Hilary McCollum on May 18, 2017 - 3:43 pm
Hi Elizabeth, I was wondering if you have come across anything indicating where Mary Leigh lived during her suffragette years. I believe it was around Roman Road but have not been able to track the street down. I’m currently writing a novel set in the suffragette movement and your reference guide is invaluable. Thanks, Hilary
#2 by womanandhersphere on May 18, 2017 - 5:24 pm
i’m afraid I don’t have an East End address for her. In 1907 she was living at Houghton Place, Camden Town and was still there when she boycotted the 1911 census.But you’ve probably seen that address from the Reference Guide…thank you for consulting it…I’m happy to be useful! Mary Leigh is a difficult person to pin down. I think she was so poor – and transient – for most of her life that she doesn’t appear on official registers etc.
Best wishes
Elizabeth
#3 by Charles Balfour on December 27, 2023 - 6:18 pm
Dear Elizabeth, thank you for your interesting research and Sarah Smith for her reply to you.
I inherited the Myra Luxmoore portrait of Lady Frances Balfour, daughter of the 8th Duke of Argyll and sister in law of Princess Louise daughter of Queen Victoria.
As you may know Lady Frances was a leader of the suffrage movement and her picture and name are on the plinth of the statue of Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square.
Best wishes,
The Hon. Charles Balfour
#4 by womanandhersphere on December 28, 2023 - 11:54 am
Dear Charles
Well, it is very satisfactory to know the whereabouts of the portrait of Lady Frances by Myra Luxmoore. I note that it merited exhibiting at the RA.; is it any good?? I have, in fact, over the years, written several short pieces about Lady Frances and her involvement in the suffrage movement – and was associated with the selecting of names to go on the statue’s plinth. Lady Frances was always a great supporter of Millicent Fawcett and Eustace Balfour, as architect, was associated with at least one of the enterprises conducted by Fawcett’s sister, Agnes Garrett – the block of Ladies’ Residential Chambers in York Street, Marylebone.
Best wishes
Elizabeth
#5 by Charles Balfour on December 29, 2023 - 9:44 am
Dear Elizabeth,
Thank you so much for your reply. I suspected you would be very well informed about Lady Frances so apologise for preaching to the converted.
I will send you a photograph of the portrait as I doubt there is one in existence. The portrait must have hung in her house in Addison Rd, then passed to my grandfather and father.
With my best wishes,
Charles
#6 by womanandhersphere on December 30, 2023 - 5:19 pm
Dear Charles
I’d love to see a photograph of the portrait…It’s probably easiest to send it to my email address – elizabeth.crawford2017@outlook.com. Now I come to think of it, I did review Joan Huffman’s biography of Lady Frances for the ‘Women’s History Review’, a book about which I am sure you are aware.
Best wishes, Elizabeth