An early pair of Artificers Guild silver and abalone salts
Price range: Sold
For sale is this rare pair of silver salts set with abalone, designed by Edward Spencer in what I would say is the “Elizabethan style”. The pair date to c 1905 and featured in the Art Journal 1906, page 55. See images. These salts, as described in the Art Journal, comprise slightly different designs, one decorated with grapes, the other with shells.
These salts are made even more special as they pre-date the 1906 registration of the Guild’s sponsor mark and carry the rarely seen MF/ES mark for Montagu Fordham and Edward Spencer.
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 Montagu Fordham. In 1909 Spencer took over the entire Guild, selling debentures to capitalise the firm as a limited company.
Maker: Artificers Guild
Designer: Edward Spencer
Date: 1905
Marks: MF/ES, not assayed
Material: Sterling silver, abalone
Condition: Excellent
Size: 6.5 cm diameter, 7.25 cm high
Weight : 109 grams, 3.8 oz each
Additional information
Period | Arts and crafts |
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