Not currently on display at the V&A

Fork

1913-1914 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Omar Ramsden (1873-1939), son of a successful Sheffield manufacturer, had met Alwyn Carr (1872-1940) as a fellow design student at the Sheffield School of Art. In 1897, Ramsden won First Prize in the open competition for the design of a mace for the Sheffield City Council and turned to Carr for help with its execution leading to their formal partnership in 1898.

Business flourished and the workshop, now enlarged to include specialist chasers, engravers and enamellers as well as general silversmiths in new premises and showroom in Fulham. The character of the wide range of silver produced, domestic, ceremonial and religious, is linked by its apparent hand made appearance and an English decorative quality of historic reference to medievalism as well as occasionally, a subtle awareness of the sinuous lines of contemporary Art Nouveau. The partnership was dissolved in 1918, after which, Ramsden and Carr ran independent studios until their respective deaths.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver
Brief description
Fork, part of a christening set, silver, London hallmarks for 1913-14, mark of Omar Ramsden and Alwyn Carr
Physical description
Fork, part of a christening set, silver, three prongs, an hexagonal stem with a twisted knop in the centre and a pointed hexagonal cap.
Dimensions
  • Length: 14.3cm
Style
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • London hallmarks for 1913-14
  • Mark of Omar Ramsden and Alwyn Carr
Credit line
Gift of Carol Vinson
Object history
Part of a christening set given by installments to Carol Mary Vinson (born 1910) by her grandmother.
Summary
Omar Ramsden (1873-1939), son of a successful Sheffield manufacturer, had met Alwyn Carr (1872-1940) as a fellow design student at the Sheffield School of Art. In 1897, Ramsden won First Prize in the open competition for the design of a mace for the Sheffield City Council and turned to Carr for help with its execution leading to their formal partnership in 1898.

Business flourished and the workshop, now enlarged to include specialist chasers, engravers and enamellers as well as general silversmiths in new premises and showroom in Fulham. The character of the wide range of silver produced, domestic, ceremonial and religious, is linked by its apparent hand made appearance and an English decorative quality of historic reference to medievalism as well as occasionally, a subtle awareness of the sinuous lines of contemporary Art Nouveau. The partnership was dissolved in 1918, after which, Ramsden and Carr ran independent studios until their respective deaths.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
M.21B-1973

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
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