An early Keswick School silver flower bowl

For sale is this rare solid silver Keswick School of Industrial Art’s bowl with lovely repousse flower pattern to the base and faintly but clearly signed “Robert Temple”.  Signed silver pieces by Keswick are especially rare. This piece is beautifully hand planished. The bowl dates to 1900.

Robert Temple was one of the finest workers to work at the school. He produced many items in silver (which will sometimes carry his scratched script signature R.Temple) – possibly this was a sign of his  respect and seniority at the school as no other workers apart from maybe Jeremiah Richardson got to scratch sign so much of their work. He used to arm wrestle the wages from the Irish navvies who were working on the Thirlmere dam,in the George hotel in the town on a regular basis. His slight build belying the size and strength in his hammer arm. (Information courtesy of KSIA.co.uk, from the Temple family)

Price: Sold

Maker: Keswick School of Industrial Arts / Robert Temple

Designer: Robert Temple (presumed)

Date : 1900

Marks: KSIA, Birmingham, date letter “a”

Material: Sterling silver

Condition: Excellent

Size: 11,5 cm wide, 5 cm high

Weight :  115 grams, 4.1 oz