The Sea Beaker; silver, mark of H.G. Murphy, London hallmarks for 1933-4, engraved by G.T. Friend, designed by R.M.Y. Gleadowe

The beaker is trumpet shaped, flaring towards the lip and rests on a moulded rim. The base of the vessel is encircled by a border of waves, chased in low relief. The remainder (and greater part) of the design is free-hand engraved. Two naked mermaids, realistically rendered, with long flowing hair, floating behind and around their bodies decorate opposite sides of the vessel, one reversed in relation to the other. In between is engraved stylised representations of underwater reeds, shoals of fish and towards the top, the crests of waves, seagulls and clouds with the light breaking through, tucked beneath the rim.

Harry Murphy was a silversmith and jeweller who studied at the central School of Arts and Crafts and by 1900, was an assistant to Henry Wilson, the architect turned sculptor, metalworker and jeweller. Richard Yorke Gleadowe was one of the most able designers of British silverware of the inter war period. Apart from being the Art Master at Winchester College and later, Slade Professor of Fine Art at Oxford, he worked principally for H G Murphy, Wakely & Wheeler and Barnards. His earlier work is characterised by a delicate, pictorial style of which this beaker is one of the best examples. George T Friend was the most accomplished engraver of his day. As well as managing his own workshop, he taught engraving at the Central School from the early 1900s until shortly before his death.

A similar example, hallmarked for 1929-30 is in the collection of the Goldsmiths' Company; see The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths as Patrons of Their Craft, George Ravensworth Hughes, London, Goldsmiths' Company, 1965.cat.no.103.

Another example is in the collections of the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Goldsmiths' Company Exhibition RF.2004/844

Mermaids, waves and fish feature in the decoration of this Sea Beaker. The piece is the result of a collaboration between three distinguished practitioners. Its delicate, pictorial style is one of the best examples of the earlier work of Richard Yorke Gleadowe (1888-1944). He was one of the most able designers of British silverware of the 1920s and 1930s. He also had a distinguished teaching career as Art Master at Winchester College and, later, Slade Professor of Fine Art at Oxford.

The beaker was made by Harry George Murphy (1884-1939), a silversmith and jeweller who studied at the Central School of Arts and Crafts. George T. Friend (1882-1969), who engraved it, was the most accomplished engraver of his day. As well as managing his own workshop, he taught engraving at the Central School of Arts and Crafts from the early 1900s until shortly before his death.

M.19-1991