Price: Sold

For sale is this rare and large silver two handled cover cup designed by Kate Harris.  This is perhaps Harris’ most iconic design.  An identical example was displayed at the famous 1900 Paris Exhibition and is now displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum ref M.22&A-1966 at this link.

The cup is marked for William George Connell, who would have retailed this piece, made by William Hutton and Sons.  The design is classic Harris art nouveau, with long stem, curved handles with mistletoe decoration and classic art nouveau maidens head finial to the lid.  A beautiful object.

The silver is in excellent original condition and a good gauge.  The cup is an early example of Harris. work. fully assayed to lid and body for London 1899.

Kate Harris was employed the London studio of William Hutton & Sons to produce artistic silver from 1899 to c 1905. Her work is often hallmarked for Connells or Goldsmiths and Silversmiths who were retailers of Hutton’s work, as well as manufacturers in their own right. See Professor Stephen Pudney’s articles on Kate Harris in the Decorative Arts Society Journal Vol 22 “A marriage of art and commerce: Kate Harris and the arts and crafts silverware of William Hutton & Sons” and 2015 Volume 39 “The mystery woman of English art nouveau”.

Connells of Cheapside were one of the earliest innovators in arts and crafts silver. Alongside Charles Ashbee’s Guild of Handicraft they were one of only two exhibitors of silver holloware at the 1893 Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society. By 1900 they were retailing goods by Kate Harris and, slightly later, A E Jones. For more information see an article on Connells “Pioneers of Modern Artistic Silverware” by Professor Stephen Pudney in the Silver Society Journal page 223, Vol 11, 1999.

Maker:  WG Connell/William Hutton & Sons

Designer:  Kate Harris

Date: 1899

Marks: WGC, London, d

Material: Sterling silver

Condition: Excellent

Size: 31.5 cm high, 25 cm wide across handles

Weight: 1069 grams, 37.7 oz