A special Artificers Guild silver spoon

Price range: £325

For sale is this remarkable survival – the christening spoon of Montague Fordham’s son, no doubt made and gifted by Edward Spencer and the Artificers Guild.  Whilst the spoon is unmarked it is of classic Artificers Guild design and dated August 4th 1905, the birth date of Fordham’s son, and engraved with the initials S.F for Scott Fordham.  The finial of the spoon carries a lion’s head, undoubtedly symbolizing the Leo star sign and the spoon has gilt, or possibly gold, applied stars and shell.

Montague Fordham’s son, Michael Scott Montague Fordham, later took the given name Michael and was a renowned psychiatrist and Jungian  analyst.   More details on him can be found at this link.

The Artificers Guild was originally established by Nelson Dawson along similar lines to Charles Ashbee’s Guild of Handicrafts but quickly changed ownership and from 1902 it’s chief designer became Edward Spencer backed by Montague Fordham.   Montague Fordham was a key figure in the arts and crafts movement, being the first director of the Birmingham Guild of Handicraft and then Director of the Artificers Guild.  Full details on him can be found at this link.  In 1909 Spencer took over the entire Guild, selling debentures to capitalise the firm as a limited company.

Maker: Artificers Guild

Designer: Edward Spencer (presumed)

Date: 1905

Marks: Not marked

Material: Sterling silver

Condition: Excellent, some age related wear

Size: 11.25cm long

Weight : 18 grams, 0.6 oz