Having been moved to write an article on silver (foundation stone) cermonial trowels some years ago, I now find myself in the grip of a fascination with ceremonial (opening) keys. I have just listed three Birmingham Guild keys from 1937-9 that are beautifully made and represent the pre war optimism and ambition of St Pancras, now Camden, council. The commissioning architect of the keys was Albert John Thomas, senior architectural assistant to Edwin Lutyens . Full details at this link.

I have just released my November newsletter covering my latest research and new items for sale. It can be seen at this link. if you wish to subscribe please click here.

I have just listed an exceptional symbolist Glasgow School silver tea caddy by James Herbert and Frances MacDonald McNair. Full details at this link

I have just listed a truly wonderful vase or massive cup by Gilbert Marks. See full detail at this link or see a video on the item here.

A fortuitous, and somewhat erroneous purchase, has led me to research Albert Henry Jephcott, a central, if obscure, figure in the Leicester arts and crafts movement and a key silversmith with Dryad. See link for more details.

My Zoom lecture “Arts and crafts silver: Shaping modernity” for the Silver Society is now online at my new YouTube channel! An exciting new addition to The Peartree Collection. This channel will host video content I plan to create going forward. Meantime the lecture in four parts can be seen by clicking on the blue text/link above.

I have added to the Collection a new Giacinto Melillo vase, itself a lovely piece. It also has a laurel design that is so close in workmanship and style to the Collection’s panther handled askos that it would seem to further strengthen the attribution of Melillo to that piece also. More details at A766 and A59

Further to my earlier post on Haselers follow-up range of pewter and metal pieces to the Tudric range, called Hazelware, two bowls have been found by the ebay dealer libertyvintage. Full details at this link .

I am delighted to invite you to a Zoom lecture that I will be giving on Tuesday 29th September at 7.00pm (UK time), hosted by the Silver Society. The title is “Arts and crafts silver: Shaping modernity”  Full details are attached by clicking on this invitation from the Silver Society. You can also obtain the lecture details by contacting me directly.

Topic: Silver Society Lecture
Time: Sep 29, 2020 07:00 PM London

I acquired a strange William Hair Haseler Catalogue that had images of Tudric pieces by Knox and Baker for sale but also introduced a new range of “Hazlewares”. I have finally researched this and the catalogue dates to c 1917/18. Hence it is after the Liberty/Tudric period but clearly Haseler continued to make and sell these pieces under their own name only. Additionally they tried to introduce their own more “modern” Hazlewares – a play on the Haseler name which is German for hazelnut (the Solkets mark often thought to be two acorns is in fact two hazelnuts and was designed by Oliver Baker and registered in 1899 by Haseler for their own artistic silver range).

These Hazlewares must have sold very badly as I have hardly seen any of the designs. some are rather boring but I have included below some of the more adventurous candlesticks, frames and clocks. Handwritten on the Hazleware interior divider of the catalogue it says “not yet able to deliver” so they may also have had post war production issues. Do contact me if you have any pieces marked “Hazleware”. I am now happy to sell this catalogue if you are interested. The catalogue is 64 pages, 3-48 is essentially “Tudric” pieces, 50-64 Hazleware.