Butter Knife thumbnail 1
Butter Knife thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Not currently on display at the V&A
On short term loan out for exhibition

Butter Knife

1900-1901 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Charles Robert Ashbee established the Guild of Handicraft in 1888. Influenced by Ruskin and Morris, he intended the Guild to be a co-operative venture which would encourage the full creative potential of the craftsman. At the turn of the century, the Guild was at the height of its success and had evolved a distinctive and mature style. Softly planished surfaces decorated with chasing, embossing and sometimes, piercing were characteristic of Ashbee's designs and had a significant effect on contemporary silver in Europe and America as well as Britain. Financially however, the Guild was less successful and in 1908, Ashbee was forced to wind up its affairs.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver set with a stone (now missing)
Brief description
Silver, originally set with a stone, London hallmarks for 1900-01, mark of the Guild of handicraft, designed by C.R. Ashbee.
Physical description
Silver with a twisted wire handle and a settong for a stone (now missing).
Dimensions
  • Length: 6.25in
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • London hallmarks for 1900-01
  • Mark of the Guild of Handicraft Ltd.
Credit line
Duchess of Leeds Gift
Summary
Charles Robert Ashbee established the Guild of Handicraft in 1888. Influenced by Ruskin and Morris, he intended the Guild to be a co-operative venture which would encourage the full creative potential of the craftsman. At the turn of the century, the Guild was at the height of its success and had evolved a distinctive and mature style. Softly planished surfaces decorated with chasing, embossing and sometimes, piercing were characteristic of Ashbee's designs and had a significant effect on contemporary silver in Europe and America as well as Britain. Financially however, the Guild was less successful and in 1908, Ashbee was forced to wind up its affairs.
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.358-1959

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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