A Cymric silver mustard with Ruskin pottery body

This piece brings together two heavyweights of the period, Liberty & Co and the Ruskin Pottery factory. Both innovators and leaders in arts and crafts design in their respective areas.  It incorporates a beautiful souffle glazed blue green Ruskin body (model 224) with a silver lid and surround fully hallmarked for Liberty & Co 1903, Cymric.  The design is most likely by Oliver Baker and a near identical mustard features in a Liberty catalogue of the period – see other images. This is a very rare model.

The Ruskin body carries the glazed scissor marks Ruskin pottery dating from c.  1901. The souffle glaze pre dates The Ruskin Pottery’s invention of its better know high fired flambe glaze.  Condition is very good.  There is a slight looseness to the lid hinge and a slight uneveness to the fixture of the silver to the pottery body,  Both probably original to manufacture,

The link between Baker and The Ruskin factory, both based in Birmingham, was most likely through William Rabone Haseler, owner of the firm William Hair Haseler who made all Liberty’s Cymric silver. He was also President of The Birmingham School of Art of which Edward Richard Taylor, founder of the Ruskin factory, was headmaster.

Price : Sold

Maker: Liberty & Co, Ruskin Pottery

Designer: Oliver Baker (attrib)

Date : 1903

Marks: Liberty & Co, Birmingham, date letter “d” (lid part marked)

Material: Sterling silver, Ruskin pottery

Condition: Excellent -see description

Size: 6.75 cm high, 7.5 cm max diameter

Weight : NM