A Japanese silver and mixed metal Aesthetic Movement bowl. Import marks for Cornelius Brabrook Pare, Birmingham, 1878. Of shaped, circular form, the textured foliate sides applied with mixed metal animals including butterflies and a crab, the interior lightly gilded, some gilding to exterior also, 5.5cm high, 11.9cm wide, gross weight approx. 6.2ozt Footnotes: Christopher Dresser was a leading figure in the Japonisme movement in the West, and his efforts to promote Japanese art and design led him to set sail for Japan in 1876-1877. This was the first visit to Japan by a European Designer, and Dresser was commissioned to form two collections of 'reliable tutorial value': one for the London based importer of Japanese wares, Londos & Co., and the other for Tiffany & Co. of New York. Charles and Louis Tiffany commissioned him to bring back some 8000 objects from Japan, from which their own craftsmen could take inspiration and obtain technical knowledge. These were delivered by Dresser on his return journey from Japan in 1877.Dresser is known to have worked as an advisor to the firm of Londos and Co. (a partnership between Cornelius Brabrook Pare (whose sponsor’s mark is on this bowl), Peter Charles and John Reynolds). The partnership was dissolved in 1879. The hallmarks on this bowl (Birmingham, 1878, Cornelius Brabrook Pare) suggest that it was one of the items brought back by Dresser for Londos & Co. in 1877.Based on the design of an interesting Tiffany & Co. chocolate pot made in New York in 1979, it seems reasonable to conclude that a similar bowl may have included in the collection that Dresser amassed for Tiffany. The chocolate pot features similar applied mixed metal animals including a crab (see pg. Fig. 8.13, pg. 262 In Pursuit of Beauty. Americans and the Aesthetic Movement, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1987, and https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/20121).The book describes this chocolate pot in the following words: The dramatic and difficult combination of copper and silver is seen in a graceful Tiffany & Company chocolate pot made in 1879. The form of this piece is Western, yet it is covered with a reddish patina and decorated with sea-life motifs, suggesting Japanese print sources. Crabs and lobsters cast in silver are affixed to the copper surface, which has been soldered and hammered to the silver body of the pot. (Pg. 262) In providing Tiffany with such a wealth of examples, David Hanks asserts that Dresser ‘acted as a catalyst for the influence of Japanese art on American manufacturers and designers (Gorham and Tiffany, for example, both produced items of silverware applied with mixed metals). Dresser marvelled at the way in which Japanese craftsmen combined beauty and utility in the goods they made for everyday use, and he incorporated a number of Japanese themes into his own creations, including butterflies, frogs, cherry, reeds and insects. His motto ‘In Pursuit of Beauty’ became virtually synonymous with Japonisme.Dresser devoted several pages of his book Japan: Its Architecture, Art, and Art Manufactures to descriptions of the virtues of Japanese metalwork, of which a few are included below.Our first acquaintance with Japanese (metal) manufacturers revealed their skill in the casting of metals...The great peculiarity which I noticed in the Japanese method consisted in a fresh model being made for every work produced...It will be seen that this process, although laborious, gives variety and interest to the works produced ; and while all such methods must seem to us to involve an unnecessary expenditure of labour, I yet think that the Japanese gain as much as they lose by their processes. The Japanese method of casting gives a certain amount of variety in the work produced, for no two objects are precisely alike (pp. 417-420)Pg 428 The Japanese have more nearly achieved the production of colour harmony in metals than any other people; and in many of their works we see gold, silver, copper, zinc, black-metal, tea-urn bronze, green bronze, and other metals and alloys brought together; and not only brought together, but so arranged that their colours are brightened by reflected lights, and brought into harmony by skilful juxtaposition.Pg 429: One other point connected with Japanese metalwork is worthy of most careful consideration, namely, the various textures given to metals. We are too fond of bright surfaces, and not unfrequently prefer glitter to repose; but to the Japanese, glitter is vulgar.References: Christopher Dresser and Japan, (Catalogue Committee, 2002); Christopher Dresser and the Arts of Japan, Harry Lyons & Chris Morley (RSA Journal, Vol. 148, No. 5496 (2001), pp. 90-91); Japan: Its Architecture, Art, and Art Manufactures, Christopher Dresser, London, 1882; Old Bailey Record “t18841020-998”,1884; In Pursuit of Beauty. Americans and the Aesthetic Movement, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1987; The Metropolitan Museum of Art: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/20121, New York).Condition Report: Some minor surface scratching, pitting and nicking commensurate with age. Some small holes noted around the rim which look as though they may have occurred during the manufacturing process. A very small split noted under 10x magnification where one of these holes meets the rim. A small patch of solder nearby. Some remains of gilding to exterior and faded gilding to interior. In our opinion, it looks as though some of the applied motifs (possibly foliage) may have been removed as there are raised areas visible to the interior where these may have been and dark impressions in these same places visible to the exterior. Some wear to the decoration and applied metal motifs commensurate with age and some small splits/bruising noted to the body of the crab under 10x magnification. Hallmarks to underside clear. Overall an attractive and characterful bowl. Further images available to download via this link: https://we.tl/t-GVzYYzzmNA
We found 109219 price guide item(s) matching your search
There are 109219 lots that match your search criteria. Subscribe now to get instant access to the full price guide service.
Click here to subscribe- List
- Grid
-
109219 item(s)/page
An Elizabeth II silver four-piece tea set of cushion form with gadrooned rim, on ball feet, comprising teapot, hot water pot, two-handled sugar bowl and milk jug, Sheffield 1958 and 1960 by James Dixon & Sons Ltd, total weight 1897.2g, height of teapot 15cm, height of hot water pot 23cm, together with a matched plated two-handled tea tray, bearing paper label for Reed & Barton, retailed by Harrods of London, length 64.5cm.
A COMPOSITE WILLIAM IV SILVER PART TABLE SERVICE, various makers and dates, in Queen's Oyster pattern, comprising six each table, dessert and tea spoons, a pair of sauce ladles and a butter spade/fish fork, maker Jonathan Hayne, London 1834, six each table and dessert forks, maker's mark WB, London 1830, a set of four salt spoons, maker's mark indistinct, London 1834, 86ozs 9dwts total (37) (Part Illustrated) (Est. plus 24% premium inc. VAT)Condition Report: All engraved with an armorial bar the salt spoons, fish knife poor, remaining items have been used but generally good.
Royal Crown Derby 'Red Derby Panel' pattern porcelain tureen and cover, shape no. 1236, with backstamp to the underside, Royal Crown Derby 'Victoria' pattern tea and coffee wares comprising a teapot and cover, three saucers and two cups, a Royal Crown Derby cabinet cup and saucer, and a set of six Royal Crown Derby egg cups.
A set of German .800 standard silver flatware, knives and other items by J C Wich. Each with a tapering handle engraved with an initial 'W', comprising eight table forks; seven dessert forks; six tea or coffee spoons; a table spoon, a serving spoon with a gilt bowl, and a serving slice, 1122g of weighable; together with two sets of four stainless steel bladed knives with conforming handles
Two sets of six silver tea or coffee spoons and tongs, both in cases. Comprising a set of six silver Hanoverian rat tail teaspoons and a tongs, hallmarks for Sheffield 1903, 86g, in a red leather fitted case; and another set with floral pierced handles, mark of William Comyns, London 1904, 102g, in a black leather bound shaped case marked 'Benetfink Silversmiths Cheapside'
A silver plated fiddle, thread and shell pattern table service for eight. Comprising soup spoons, table knives and forks, dessert knives, forks and spoons; tea spoons, coffee spoons; and four serving spoons, in a mahogany canteen with one lift-out tray; together with a set of six stainless steel cake forks and a slice
A collection of Victorian and later silver and silver-mounted items to include a pair of open-work vases. With loaded bases, hallmarks for Sheffield 1913; two pairs of Victorian fiddle pattern sugar tongs each engraved with initials, Exeter 1865 and 1873, 100g; four various silver napkin rings, various dates, makers and assay offices, 108g; a pair of silver-mounted clear cut glass salts; and a set of six silver handled tea knives, in a case
A Meissen set of six saucers and twelve tea bowls, circa 1740, painted in puce camaieu with Watteau-style scenes of figures in gardens, the sides and interiors with Holzschnittblumen and insects, gilt foliate C-scroll borders and gilt line rims, blue crossed swords marks and gilder's 8One saucer with a v-shaped crack from rim to footrim which is barely visible. All with some light wear and rubbing to gilding in places
Small items of Chinese silver, to include:- a silver goblet, a silver tea strainer with a mother-of-pearl handle, a set of three silver pepperettes with a hammered finish, a pir of similar silver pepperettes with ball finials, an embossed silver pepper and matching silver salt, a pierced silver pepper (with blue glass liner), a silver spoon with a straw handle and an unmarked far eastern silver jug, the goblet 8cm high, 11.7oz. (12)
A cased set of heavy quality 1972 Royal Silver Wedding silver commemorative teaspoons, Ernest Pobjoy Ltd for Franklin Mint, London 1972, ltd ed, to/w two Art Deco sets of tea/coffee spoons, Roberts & Dore Ltd., Birmingham 1941/42 and another set of coffee spoons, also Roberts & Dore Ltd., Birmingham 1942, 12oz total (4 cases)
Loading...-
109219 item(s)/page