A rare Dryad Metalwork silver and stone set spoon

I am delighted to have a really good, rare, Dryad / Collins & Co silver spoon in the Collection.  This spoon is assayed for Dryad Metalwork, Birmingham 1918.   Dryad/Collins silver is generally rare, their metalwork more typically seen in copper, and spoons of this design are very unusual. The spoon has twisted silver stem and nicely set green stone (probably Conemara marble, maybe agate) to the terminal. Condition is very good.  The bowl soldering to the handle is slightly crude.

Dryad was a commercial venture, similar to the Guilds that were established. Set up in 1907 by Harry Peach, who in turn was highly influenced by Benjamin Fletcher who headed the Leicester School of Art. The two institutions retained close links and overlapping personnel for their duration.  Leicester itself was an active outpost of the arts and crafts movement with  Ernest Gimson and John Paul Cooper starting their careers in the town.

Dryad originally focussed on cane  furniture and a separate venture Collins & Co, set  by William Pick in c 1908, focussed on metalwork. Pick was a former student of Leicester School of Art whose father had also taught there.   He was also a good friend of Peach and in 1912 Collins was subsumed by Dryad as Dryad Metalwork.

More information on Dryad can be found at this link

Price: £365

Maker: Dryad Metalwork

Designer: NA

Date : 1918

Marks: DMW, Birmingham, date letter “t”

Material: Sterling silver, green stone

Condition: Very good

Size: 16cm long

Weight : 1.3 oz, 36 grams