Price range: Sold

A rare Irish arts and crafts spoon with a hammered, near circular bowl, a chased leaf rattail and a part-twist stem, the terminal laced with laurel leaves and berries and set with a garnet within a wire border. The sppon fully assayed for Mary Montgomery (of Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone). Hallmarked Dublin 1912.

Mary Montgomery was the wife of the local landowner in Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone and was the driving force behind the establishment of an art metalwork industry in the town in 1892. For fifteen years she had been successfully running embroidery and sewing classes for local girls and enabling them to sell their work. She created employment for boys and young men so that they could earn money in their spare-time. In 1891 she set off for London to learn repoussé metal-work and by the following year she was skilled enough to start teaching the craft, beginning what was to become one of the most successful cottage art industries in Ireland.

Mary Montgomery contributed some of the designs and among the other designers were her husband, Hugh de Fellenberg Montgomery and John Williams, who was one of the first members of the Guild of Handicraft, founded in London 1888 by Charles Ashbee.

The art metalwork produced in Fivemiletown was mainly in copper and brass although from 1906 some silver pieces were made.  Between 1895 and 1913 Mary Montgomery organised very successful Home Arts and Industries exhibitions every year in Fivemiletown, attracting exhibitors from all over Ireland and from well known craft industries in England.  The industry came to an end at the beginning of the first World War.

Maker: Mary Montgomery / Fivemiletown

Designer: Mary Montgomery / Fivemiletown

Date : 1912

Marks: MM, Dublin,  “R”

Material: Sterling silver

Condition: Excellent

Size: 25 cm long

Weight: 96  grams, 3.4 oz