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.

Following my research into Ernest Charles Jefferies, the Antiques Trade Gazette has reported on the sale. See extracted article. I am delighted that the article has just prompted the buyer of one of the plaques to contact me to say his is signed Jefferies, so confirming the research.

I have done some fresh research into enamels recently sold at Fieldings Auctioneers. Click on this link to read about it.

Remarkably the large Artificers Guild silver and copper biscuit box I have for sale has just come to light in a BBC documentary on modern Britain. An identical box (conceivably this one) features in a c 1960 film clip of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan’s office in Downing Street. It can be seen on the table behind him in “other images” of my product write-up at this link.  This clip is from the BBC’s documentary “A history of modern Britain”, second episode. Thanks to Dave at www.hammerandhand.co.uk. for spotting this!

I thought that might get your attention – nothing to do with going on a long drive. I have ex poste, updated my paper on Knox’s “cloisonne opal” designs to include a discussion whether it would have been more appropriate to call his technique “champleve opal”. I feel either, or both, are equally fair to use. Additionally I have since found a Rene Lalique brooch using the same technique and dating to c 1900 giving the tantalising possibility that Knox was influenced by Lalique, or better still, the other way round (see Fig 8a of the revised paper). See this link to get to the new paper.

3D images of all the ancient crosses on the Isle of Man that so inspired Archibald Knox are now online. They can be viewed at this link . As is often the case I am grateful to the Archibald Knox Forum for this information.

Inspired by my latest purchase of a Knox pendant I have published some thoughts and insights on a genre of Knox’s work that is perhaps his most radical – what I have called “Cloisonne opal”. It can be found at this link (updated Sunday 24th May). I have since updated further. To see the 31st May paper click here

The purchase of a stunning ceramic and silver bowl marked FAE has lead me to publish new research on Edwardes, best known as the design head of the Duchess of Sutherlands Cripples Guild from 1907-1921. See this link for details.

I am delighted to see that the Museum of New Zealand, Wellington, is now displaying two items previously in The Peartree Collection. A wonderful Archibald Knox Liberty Cymric box with large turquoise and a very special tea caddy and spoon designed by Herbert and Frances Macnair.