A pair of Murrle Bennett modernist silver “spaceship” salts

Price range: Sold

For sale is this remarkable pair of Murrle Bennett small silver bowls or salts (possibly egg cups), in Murrle Bennett’s classic jugendstil meets British arts and crafts modernist, style.  Very much “ahead of their time” pieces, these in fact remind me of 1950’s design when space exploration was a major influence on the applied arts.

The designers of this bowl were undoubtedly one or both of R Win or F Rico. I say this with confidence based on an article in the Studio (volume 36 page 161, 1905) that illustrates jewellery by Murrle Bennett, clearly in the style of these salts.  See image.  Win and Rico are given as the designers but it is unclear if the pieces were all a joint effort or if one or other made different pieces individually.  Certainly it looks as though there are two distinct design styles at work, so possibly not a joint design effort.

I can find no further information on either  Win or Rico, do please be in touch if you have anything further to add.  Clearly one or both were designers of real talent who have been lost to history.

Murrle Bennett was an Anglo German firm that made silver for Liberty and under its own name, often after Liberty or Archibald Knox designs.

Maker: Murrle Bennett & Co

Designer: R Win/F Rico – see description

Date : 1903

Marks: MB& Co, London import mark, date letter “h”

Material: Sterling silver

Condition: Excellent

Size: 5.5 cm diameter, 4.25 cm tall

Weight : 44 grams, 1.6 oz each