A FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE LATE VICTORIAN SIGNED AND DOCUMENTED KESWICK SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL ARTS

A FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE LATE VICTORIAN SIGNED AND DOCUMENTED KESWICK SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL ARTS (KSIA) ENAMELLED COPPER CASKET, Exhibited at the Home Arts and Industries Exhibition 1900, designed by Herbert Maryon, made by Thomas Spark, and enamelled by Maryon and Thomas Clarke, of spreading rectangular section, the slightly domed cover with shield-form hasp, enamelled with a tree, fish and bird (all symbols of Saint Kentigern), the body with "corbelled" rim, the spreading front and sides decorated with fielded panels, the former centred by a waisted "knotwork" or "tree root" motif with enamelled cells, the corners extending as legs with block feet, inscribed beneath "1507" with price "10.10.0", faint signatures of "John Peel" and "T. Clarke", 36.5cm x 21.5cm x 10cm high, (14.3in x 8.5in x 4in) ***This casket is illustrated in "The Studio" Magazine, Vol. XX, (1900) p.85, described as follows: "Two designs by Herbert Maryon were singularly good... a copper casket made by Thomas Spark and ornamented by Thomas Clark and the designer. The lock, enamelled in pearly blue and white, gave a dainty touch of colour to a form almost bare of ornament, but beautiful in its proportions and lines". It is again illustrated with part of the above quote reproduced, in Bruce, Ian, The Loving Eye and Skilful Hand - The Keswick School of Industrial Arts, Bookcase, 2000, p.57, plate 40.