Silver

A William Butterfield gothic revival chalice

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A William Butterfield for Thomas Peard silver gilt gothic revival chalice.  This very large chalice dates to 1884 and is inscribed to the base:

S. MARY UPPER EDMONTON TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF G R HAMMOND WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE NOVEMBER 5 AD 1883”

St Mary’s Church, Edmonton, was an Anglican church in Fore Street, Upper Edmonton, England. It was designed by William Butterfield, and consecrated in 1884, the same date as this chalice and also the same year in which Butterfield received RIBA’s prestigious Gold Medal. The church was built in red brick with stone dressings and was demolished in 1957. See images.

William Butterfield (1814-1900) was one of the Victorian period’s leading gothic revival architects.  He was also one of its leading designers and under the auspices of the Cambridge Camden Society created a series of designs for prescribed ecclesiastical silver such as flagons and chalices.  This Instrumenta Ecclesiastica was published in 1843 and Butterfield’s church designs for silver followed this template throughout his career. This chalice is almost identical to a design by Butterfield and made by John Keith in 1849.  That chalice now resides in Harvard Museum – see images and this link.

TP for Thomas Peard was the mark for the combined firm of Hart Son and Peard who appear to have succeeded John Keith as Butterfield’s preferred silversmith from about 1875.

G R Hammond is George Richard Hammond, born in 1822, and living in Edmonton at the time of the church’s construction. He spent much of his career in Mauritius and made a second marriage to Frances Isabella Cutter in 1883, the same  year that he died.  In the 1851 census he is listed as a grocer (wholesaler, probably in sugar and/or bananas) and by 1881 a “Gentleman”.  I can only assume that he and/or his new wife were active in the church community to warrant the donation/inscription.

The design of this chalice is especially  interesting as the wire work to the base (which appears to mimic gothic internal roof architecture)  and tendrils to the cup have an organic quality that hints at the future arts and crafts and art nouveau movements.

The chalice is large and a good gauge of  silver.  It is very heavy, though may additionally be weighted.   Condition is excellent.  There is the religious inscription IHS engraved to the front of the base.

Maker: Thomas Peard (Hart Son Peard & Co)

Designer: William Butterfield

Date : 1884

Marks: TP, London,  “I”. Additional makers mark of C (a heart) within a sun.

Material: Sterling silver gilt

Condition: Excellent

Size: 21.5 cm high

Weight : 845 grams, 29.8 oz (possibly weighted)

SKU: A883 Category:

Additional information

Period

Gothic revival

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