An early pair of Artificers Guild silver and abalone salts

Price range: Sold

For sale is this rare pair of silver salts set with abalone, designed by Edward Spencer in what I would say is the “Elizabethan style”.  The pair date to c 1905 and featured in the Art Journal 1906, page 55. See images.  These salts, as described in the Art Journal, comprise slightly different designs, one decorated with grapes, the other with shells.

These salts are made even more special as they pre-date the 1906 registration of the Guild’s sponsor mark and carry the rarely seen MF/ES mark for Montagu Fordham and Edward Spencer.

The Artificers Guild was originally established by Nelson Dawson along similar lines to Charles Ashbee’s Guild of Handicrafts but quickly changed ownership and from 1902 it’s chief designer became Edward Spencer backed by Montagu Fordham.  In 1909 Spencer took over the entire Guild, selling debentures to capitalise the firm as a limited company.

Maker: Artificers Guild

Designer: Edward Spencer

Date: 1905

Marks: MF/ES, not assayed

Material: Sterling silver, abalone

Condition: Excellent

Size: 6.5 cm diameter, 7.25 cm high

Weight : 109 grams, 3.8 oz each