Spoon, Guild of Handicraft, London, 1900-1901
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1900-1901
Charles Robert Ashbee established the Guild of Handicraft in 1888. Influenced by Ruskin and Morris, he intended the Guild to be a co-operative venture which would encourage the full creative potential of the craftsman. At the turn of the century, the Guild was at the height of its success and had evolved a distinctive and mature style.
Softly planished surfaces decorated with chasing, embossing and sometimes, piercing were characteristic of Ashbee's designs and had a significant effect on contemporary silver in Europe and America as well as Britain. Financially however, the Guild was less successful and in 1908, Ashbee was forced to wind up its affairs. Pierced silver bowl with a floral design, set with a chrysoprases at the junction with the bone handle. Silver knop set with a chrysoprase at the termination of the handle.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Silver with pierced openwork, set with semi-precious stones and a bone handle
- Dimensions
- Length: 19.3 cm; Width: 6.3 cm; Depth: 2.5 cm
Technical characteristics
- Maker recorded
- Ashbee, Charles Robert; Guild of Handicraft Ltd.
- Place recorded
- Essex House (Mile End), London
Design
- Marks and inscriptions
- London hallmarks for 1900-1; Mark of the Guild of Handicraft Ltd.
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum, London collection record for this single object (sentences kept verbatim apart from removed sale or rarity wording); how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Candidate id
- vam-O109821
- Museum object name
- Spoon
- Holding institution
- Victoria and Albert Museum, London
- Museum object number
- CIRC.357-1959
- Museum system number
- O109821
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and dating against a specialist reference; this entry documents one recorded example.