The cast trumpet-shaped base chased with swags of flowers with a pendant primrose between each one. The slender stem with a plain spherical knop rising to 7 open strap supports applied to the underside of the bowl, each terminating in a small cast human head. The plain hemispherical bowl with detachable cover, the latter with domed centre capped by a cast leaf bud finial, surrounded by embossed foliate swags similar to the base.
Private Collection
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This rare cup is unsually stamped with the C.R.A. in a trefoil punch for Charles Robert Ashbee, famously known as the founder of the Guild of Handicrafts in 1888. He entered this first mark at the London Assay Office, Goldsmiths' Hall, in 1896 which was followed by the first of the Guild marks in 1898. It is reasonable to assume, therefore, that the C.R.A mark was only used for those two years. Much has been written about the foundation of the Arts and Crafts movement which was pioneered, amongst others, by Ashbee along with John Ruskin and William Morris. Although the Guild collapsed in September 1908 its ideals were carried on by the likes of Omar Ramsden and Alwyn Carr for over two decades running in parallel to Art Nouveau and Art Deco. It is fair to say that these were more artistic and design lead genres as opposed to Arts and Crafts which not only had a strong social element but essentially rejected mechanical manufacture and championed hand-made manufacture. It became enormously popular with about 150 Arts and Crafts organisations set up between 1895 and 1905.
The design of this cup is remarkably similar to that illustrated in Ashbee's "Modern English Silverwork" (New Edition, 1974), plate 7 and the strap supports underneath the bowl can be seen in plate 6 on a different bowl.
A similar sup was sold at Reeman Dansie Auctioneers in Colchester, 12th February, 2013, lot 236 for £5566 (inc. premium). It was later in date, 1903, and bore the G of H mark.