A remarkable set of twelve Gilbert Marks silver plates with flower borders

For sale is this remarkable survival; a set of twelve Gilbert Marks’ silver plates, each with a different border of English flowers or plants.  Each plate is signed for Gilbert Marks, 1898 and assayed identically for London 1897.  It is a true set. Gilbert Marks is famed for his exceptional repousse work, producing  perhaps only a thousand or so items in his relatively short working life as a silversmith between 1895-1904.  Each piece he made was unique. To find one dish of this calibre and early date is rare, to find a set of twelve possibly unique.   The plates are a good gauge of silver and the overall condition excellent with the detail repousse and chasing still very clear.  There are some scratches and wear commensurate with age to the flat dish areas.

The dishes display some flowers/plants not, as far as I am aware, previously seen on Marks’ work including some wonderful poppy seed heads, narcissus and cornflowers, to name just three. Overall the following flowers or plants in the plates borders are identified, numbers refer to those on the photos’ titles and order: 1. Poppy heads, 2. Poppy flowers, 3. Daffodils, 4. Narcissus, 5. Cornflower, 6. Pinks, 7. Harebell, 8. Ragged robin, 9. Berry design, 10. Tulip (possibly Fritillaries), 11. Anemone, 12. Snowdrop.

Price: Sold

Maker:  Gilbert Marks

Designer:  Gilbert Marks

Date: 1897/8

Marks: GM, London, “b”, Signed Gilbert Marks 1898

Material: Sterling silver

Condition: Excellent, see description

Size: 22 cm diameter

Weight: 10.2 oz, 288  grams each, total weight 122 oz