I have finally researched successfully Alfred Edward Bonner, the silversmith and enameller with makers mark AEB. He was born in Norfolk in 1862 to a farming family.  In the 1891 census, at the age of 29, Bonner was living at home with no occupation given. By the 1901 census (and after his father’s death in 1898)   he is boarding in London and gives his occupation as an “artist painter”  By the 1911 census he is in Kensington and listed as an “Artist metalworker”.  In 1912, at the age of 50,  he married Mary Wright, a minor aristocrat.  Based on the absence of hallmarked Bonner pieces after c 1918 it is assumed he retired from metalwork at that time.  He died in Scotland in 1943, having lived for much of his later years  in Limpley Stoke, Wiltshire.  He was childless.

Bonner was one of those small group of arts and crafts silversmiths who flourished prior to 1914. He was described by the Studio in 1904 as a “designer of and worker in silver and jewellery” based in Kensington.  He was clearly also a skilled enameller  and wrote an article on enamelling for “Arts & Crafts” Journal vol 2, 1905, from which I have reproduced what I believe is a previously unknown photo of Bonner see link

Just in time for Christmas I have added a fantastic collection of Gaskin and other arts and crafts jewellery to the site. Acquired privately, the collection was put together over the past twenty years.

I have loaded onto the website in the “Research” section a rare 2013 catalogue of the Court Barn Museum Exhibition on the Gaskins. It can be found at this link

A number of new, smaller, pieces have been added to the website by such designers or silversmiths as Charles Ashbee, Latino Movio, Bernard Cuzner, Omar Ramsden and A E Bonner.

The Peartree Collection is featured in this week’s (September 21st) Antiques Trade Gazette. The sale at the LAPADA Fair of The Collection’s Gilbert Marks’ plates is highlighted. See article extract below.

The attached article has just been published in Manx Life. The Peartree Collection was delighted to provide the images. Lots of good Knox, mainly form the archive.

I am delighted The Collection’s Gilbert Marks’ plates will be showcased at the “LAPADA Legends” stand at the LAPADA Fair, Berkley Square from 12th September.

Delighted to have helped recreate this still life by Maxwell Armfield featuring a Powell sea green roman decanter. The original watercolour available at Sarah Colegrave Fine Art. 

It may be the holiday season but I have been lucky enough to get hold of a wonderful and diverse collection of pieces acquired in the 1970’s. These will be listed over the coming week or so.

A lucky, if educated guess, and the help of the Birmingham Assay Office, has led to the rediscovery of Effie and Eleanor Ward, working together as jewellers/silversmiths.  Their mystery E&EW mark was registered at the Birmingham Assay Office on 7th March 1902, exactly the same day as Bernard Cuzner and Alfred H Jones registered their mark – I assume they all went to the assay office as a group of friends. Effie is best known for her enamels and as assistant to Arthur and Georgie Gaskin.  The mark is on a lovely, classic set of arts and crafts spoons. See more details at this link.

It’s fair to say I don’t always agree with the Daily Telegraph but on this occasion their advice is spot on……this is extracted from a full page spread in today’s Telegraph.

Daily Telegraph jewellery feature with Peartree Collection

Guild of Handicraft Ashbee hand mirror

This week’s issue of the Antiques Trade Gazette previews BADA, including The Peartree Collection’s very special Ashbee hand mirror for the Guild of Handicraft.

“Those on the look-out for museum-level purchases might also seek Anthony Bernbaum of The Peartree Collection, who offers a Guild of Handicraft silver and enamel hand mirror by Charles Ashbee.

It features striking peacock enamel to the back and is hallmarked for 1903. Until now, the only other known example was in Cheltenham’s Wilson Museum.

The mirror is one of a number of pieces Bernbaum will exhibit by Ashbee and Archibald Knox, whom he describes as “two of the most collectable designers from the Arts & Crafts period around 1900”.”

Anthony Bernbaum, founder of the Peartree Collection, writes about some of the more unusual pieces he is taking to BADA Fair and how he researched them.  Click Antique-Collecting-Magazine-Article-March-Edition-2019 to read the article

Antique Collecting March 2019

Charles Ashbee Guild of Handicraft silver bowl

I am delighted to have arranged for a lovely Ashbee bowl, sold last year to a client, to have been used for filming on the BBC’s new series “The Victorian House of Arts and Crafts”. This four part series can be seen on BBC2 on Fridays. The first episoode is available on BBC iplayer. Not to be missed!!

We will be exhibiting at The BADA Fair from 19th to 26th March, Duke of York Square, Chelsea, London.  If you would like a ticket please do get in touch. More details can be found here.

In a matter of months the UK government is likely to introduce legislation that will restrict the sale, import or export of any (silver) item which has, by volume, more than 10% ivory (excludes musical instruments).  The detailed legislation is still to be worked out but I have built a simple spreadsheet you can plug in your silver item’s weight and measurements of ivory components to calculate whether the piece meets the likely de minimis rule.  If you would like a version please contact me.

In the early 1890’s the Guild of Handicraft exhibited some of their earliest metalwork at a little known exhibition at Armourers’ Hall, home of the Armourers and Brasiers Company in the City of London.  I have, finally, found an article on the 1891 exhibition which included a sketch of a door or finger plate the Guild exhibited.  This won a competition the Exhibition was hosting to design a finger plate for the Hall and the design was subsequently made up and fitted, where it can still be seen today. The article is in the attached pdf  The-Armourers-and-Brasiers-Exhibition-1891. The designer and maker of the finger plate is given in the article as John Williams, with a total of six plates ordered for the Hall in total.  Separately, Alan Crawford notes that Hardiman and White both designed prize winning exhibits for Exhibitions at this venue in 1890 and 1892 respectively.

Guild Handicraft finger plate at Armourers Hall

I am delighted to announce that the gallery has become a member of LAPADA.  A selection of items for sale can now be found at both BADA’s and LAPADA’s listing websites. The Peartree Collection no longer lists items with 1st dibs or its subsidiary, Online Galleries.

Major new pieces to be showcased at BADA Fair
Catalogue available

We will be exhibiting a number of major new pieces by Archibald Knox for Liberty & Co at the BADA Fair. Highlights are in the attached catalogue and will include a rare Cymric clock, a large enamel and stone set tankard, two great Knox inkwells and enamelled vase.  Overall fifteen new Knox Cymric silver pieces from a private collection will be for sale, together with other items from the Wiener Werkstatte, Charles Ashbee, Christopher Dresser, Gilbert Marks, Kate Harris and Ramsden & Carr.

The BADA Fair, London, opens on 14th March. Please contact me if you require a ticket.

View the Peartree Collection Catalogue

The Peartree Collection will be exhibiting at the BADA Fair, Stand C28,  from 14-20th March, Chelsea, London.  Please contact me for a further details and a ticket. I will be exhibiting a number of new pieces from private collections, most notably an exceptional collection of Cymric silver by Archibald Knox for Liberty & Co.

I have just published new research into Voysey’s aluminium clocks. It can be found in the Research section of the website.  Published in The Orchard, the Voysey Society Journal, it provides further insight into the provenance of these rare cloccks.