Cake slice
Cake Slice
1990 (made)
1990 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This slice is humorous and superbly executed. The classic antique trowel shape is brought up to date and bears the artist's personal imprint on it. In a characteristically humorous approach, Appleby has interpreted the trowel as a spade for shovelling cake. The slice is also heart shaped; the Queen of Hearts is also the queen of tarts. Playfulness and practicality are in no way incompatible, as Appleby proves, playing with ideas as well as with forms. He added a further personal touch for the commissioner, Seymour Rabinovitch, by engraving a letter monogram R on the butt of the handle.
Malcolm Appleby was born in 1946. He studied at Central School of Art, Sir John Cass and the Royal College of Art in London before establishing his studio in Scotland in 1969. He is a silversmith and metal engraver, known for his imaginative use of line and form.
Malcolm Appleby was born in 1946. He studied at Central School of Art, Sir John Cass and the Royal College of Art in London before establishing his studio in Scotland in 1969. He is a silversmith and metal engraver, known for his imaginative use of line and form.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Cake slice |
| Materials and techniques | Silver, extensively engraved |
| Brief description | Silver, Edinburgh hallmarks for 1990, made by Peter Musgrove, engraved by Malcolm Appleby, mark of Malcolm Appleby. |
| Physical description | The blade, heart shaped; the solid forged handle loops forward before sweeping back. The blade is engraved with a depiction of a lusty, earthy, gluttonous queen whose hair (or tiara) is in the form of a fleur-de-lis. She clutches cake in both hands and her jewellery is composed of drip cornets and other pastries. Her body and dress completely fill all the available space handle engraved with flowing scroll-work, the end with the letter R (for Rabinovitch) and the words, allegedly said by Marie Antoinette, "Let them eat cake." |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | This collection of silver slices, all commissioned over a period of twenty years by Professor Benton Seymour Rabinovitch FRS, is proof of the skill and diversity of contemporary silversmiths. Each artist craftsman has responded to the familiar functional form of the slice in an individual way, producing an astonishingly diverse range of interpretations. Each piece becomes an enchanting, decorative work of art. Professor Rabinovitch established a close rapport with each artist, always encouraging a freedom of creative expression. The response of these silversmiths has been not only to be strikingly imaginative but also to honour him by giving him their best work.
This collection is testimony to the significant contribution that one individual can make to supporting the craft of silversmithing. After commissioning work from some of the most illustrious names in British and North American silversmithing, Professor Rabinovitch has very generously donated his entire collection to the Victoria and Albert Museum, through the American Friends of the V&A.(2005) |
| Credit line | Given by the American Friends of the V&A through the generosity of Professor B. Seymour Rabinovitch |
| Object history | Rabinovitch Collection Exhibition RF.2004/419 |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This slice is humorous and superbly executed. The classic antique trowel shape is brought up to date and bears the artist's personal imprint on it. In a characteristically humorous approach, Appleby has interpreted the trowel as a spade for shovelling cake. The slice is also heart shaped; the Queen of Hearts is also the queen of tarts. Playfulness and practicality are in no way incompatible, as Appleby proves, playing with ideas as well as with forms. He added a further personal touch for the commissioner, Seymour Rabinovitch, by engraving a letter monogram R on the butt of the handle. Malcolm Appleby was born in 1946. He studied at Central School of Art, Sir John Cass and the Royal College of Art in London before establishing his studio in Scotland in 1969. He is a silversmith and metal engraver, known for his imaginative use of line and form. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other number | LOAN:AMERICANFRIENDS.62-2005 - previous loan number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.35-2008 |
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| Record created | July 23, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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