A silver beaker by Charles Ashbee for the Guild of Handicraft

Price range: Sold

For sale is this wonderful Guild of Handicraft silver beaker set with green chrysoprases into a repousse organic design.  The pattern and stones are repeated three times around the body of the beaker. The design appears to be a stylized “tree of life”, somewhat in the Glasgow School style and also reminiscent of some of Voysey’s metalwork.  In fact the closest comparable I have found to it is Ashbee’s decorative design on the bookcases for the library at Madresfield Court (completed 1905, so four years after this beaker).  A very similar design to this appears inverted as the “roots of the Tree of Knowledge” on the bookcase ends (see plate 155, of Alan Crawford’s book “C.R. Ashbee”).

Fully hallmarked for 1901. The beaker is a good size and is very nice “in the hand”.  A great example of the Guild’s work and a rare find.  Condition is excellent.

Maker:  Guild of Handicraft Ltd
Designer: Charles Ashbee (attrib)
Date : 1901
Marks: GofH Ltd, London, date letter “f”
Material: Sterling silver, chyrsoprase
Condition: Excellent
Size: 10.5 cm tall, 8 cm diameter
Weight : 5.7 oz, 162 grams