Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Silver, Room 68, The Whiteley Galleries

Cigarette Box

1938-1939 (made)
Artist/Maker
H. G. Murphy (maker)
Place of origin
London (made)

This is a reissue of a design that was first produced in 1931. The original is in the collection of the Goldsmiths' Company. The V&A box was purchased from the Goldsmiths' Hall exhibition of Modern Silverwork, which opened in 1938. Murphy (1884–1939) studied at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London, then worked for Henry Wilson. He went to Berlin to study with Emil Lettré. In 1937 he became the first silversmith to be appointed Principal of the Central School.


Object details

Categories
Access_to_Images 2003
Metalwork
Personal Accessories
SCRAN
Object type
Cigarette box
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Cigarette Box
  • Lid
Materials and techniques
Silver, with turned ivory finial, applied decoration and raised circular swirls
Silver
Ivory
Brief description
Silver and ivory, mark of H.G. Murphy, London hallmarks for 1938-9
Physical description
Cigarette box and cover, silver, the lid set with a turned ivory finial. The body is cylindrical and decorated with applied, wire roundels.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 8.8cm
  • Height: 13.1cm
Style
Art Deco
Marks and inscriptions
base: maker HGM for Harry G Murphy, sterling, date letter c (1938-9), leopard’s head, Falcon crest for Murphy’s workshop
Object history
Acquisition RF: 38 / 4335
Purchase - £12. 12. 0
From the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.
Purchased from Goldsmith's Hall Exhibition of Modern Silverwork, 1938
A reissue of a design first produced in 1931; the original is in the Goldsmiths' Company collection. The V&A box was purchased from the Goldsmiths' Hall exhibition, Modern Silverwork in 1938. Murphy (1884-1939) studied at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, worked for Henry Wilson, went to Berlin to study with Emil Lettré and became Principal of the Central School in1937.
Summary
This is a reissue of a design that was first produced in 1931. The original is in the collection of the Goldsmiths' Company. The V&A box was purchased from the Goldsmiths' Hall exhibition of Modern Silverwork, which opened in 1938. Murphy (1884–1939) studied at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London, then worked for Henry Wilson. He went to Berlin to study with Emil Lettré. In 1937 he became the first silversmith to be appointed Principal of the Central School.
Associated object
CIRC.228A-1938
Bibliographic references
  • George Ravensworth Hughes, The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths as Patrons of their Craft 1919-53, 1965, Catalogue, Section 187
  • British Art and Design 1900-1960 ed. Carol Hogben, London, V&A, 1983 pp160-61 ill. ISBN 0905209575
  • Treasures of the 20th Century ed. Rosemary Ransome Wallis, London 2000, The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, p.30 ill
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
CIRC.228&A-1938

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Record createdMarch 3, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O94656/cigarette-box-h-g-murphy/
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