An Edward Spencer for the Artificers Guild silver tea caddy

Price range: £2,250

For sale is this lovely silver tea caddy or powder box by the Artificers Guild.   It is topped with a beautifully modelled finial holding a red carved stone, possibly coral.

The bowl has the Artificers Guild’s characteristic design with hand hammering  and a frieze of interlacing foliage.

The lid sits snugly into the base.  The box is dated 1921.

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 who took over the firm as a limited company in 1909.   The Guild continued to have great success during the inter-war period, finally closing its doors in 1939.

Maker: Artificers Guild

Designer: Edward Spencer (attrib)

Date :  1921

Marks: AsCoLd, London, f

Material: Sterling silver

Condition: Excellent

Size: 8.75 cm max diameter, 8.75 cm high

Weight : 181 grams, 6.4 oz