A large Kate Harris silver heart shaped box

Price: £1,450

For sale is this charming large Kate Harris silver art nouveau heart or shell shaped box for William Hutton & Sons.   The box lid carries a classic Harris’ motif and is gilded inside.  The depiction to the lid seems to be one of Harris’ rarer designs and can also be seen on a casket (ref CIRC.14-1961) displayed by the V & A Museum at this link.

The box is in excellent condition and a good gauge of silver.

Kate Harris was employed by the London studio of William Hutton & Sons to produce artistic silver from 1899 to c 1905.  Harris was one of the very few women, or British exhibitors, to win recognition at the 1900 Paris International Exhibition.

For more information on Kate Harris, see Professor Stephen Pudney’s articles on her in the Decorative Arts Society Journal Vol 22 “A marriage of art and commerce: Kate Harris and the arts and crafts silverware of William Hutton & Sons” and Vol 39 “Katie Harris: Mystery Woman of English Art Nouveau”.

Maker:  William Hutton & Sons

Designer:  Kate Harris

Date: 1905

Marks: WH&Sons , London, “k”

Material: Sterling silver

Condition: Excellent

Size: 11.75 cm max diameter x depth 8.5cm, height 4.5 cm

Weight: 8.4 oz, 239 grams