An A E Jones silver arts and crafts casket

Price: £1,950

A wonderful and rare A E Jones box or casket, each panel decorated with arts and crafts motifs and the lid inscribed with Shakespearean verse.

The box has repousse decoration on all sides with typical Arts & Crafts motifs such as the galleon in full sail and the rising sun. Bernard Cuzner worked with A E Jones in the early years and the designs on this box suggest he was likely involved in the design. The top of the box has the words “Fortune Play Upon Thy Prosperous Helm” in repousse. This comes from the Shakespeare play, All’s Well That Ends Well.

The box featured in the A E Jones showroom catalogue (No.35), circa 1905, described as a silver casket. The box would originally have been velvet or cedar lined and cost £7 and 10 shillings!

This particular box carries the sponsor mark for Wilson & Gill who were a well regarded luxury London retailer and silvermsith trading from Regent Street premises.

Maker:  A E Jones / Wilson & Gill

Designer:  NA, possibly Bernard Cuzner

Date: 1917

Marks: W&G, Birmingham, “s”

Material: Sterling silver

Condition: Excellent, surface scratches and wear consistent with age

Size: 16.5 cm wide

Weight: 433, grams 15.3 oz