Mazer
1935-1936 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a modern interpretation of a medieval type of drinking vessel called a mazer. Traditionally mazers were wide flat-bottomed bowls made of close-grained hard wood with a silver rim, foot and central boss. Obsolete from the 1550s, they became newly popular when members of the Arts and Crafts Movement revived the form, as here. This one is made of walnut with silver mounts, with a silver cover with a walnut finial.
Harry George Murphy (1884-1939), who designed it, established his own workshop in London in 1913. He was also an influential teacher and was the first silversmith to be appointed Principal of the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London.
Harry George Murphy (1884-1939), who designed it, established his own workshop in London in 1913. He was also an influential teacher and was the first silversmith to be appointed Principal of the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Walnut with silver mounts, English (London) 1935-6, made by Louis Galvin; sponsor's mark of H.G. Murphy and the Falcon mark for Murphy's workshop. |
| Physical description | Covered wooden bowl mounted in silver. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Marked on underside of foot, L to R:
Sponsor's mark of H.G. Murphy, lion passant (for sterling standard silver); leopard's head (for London assay office); falcoln mark (for Murphy's workshop).
Marked on silver nut: lion passant, for sterling standard silver.
Marked on rim of lid, L to R:
Sponsor's mark of H. G. Murphy; lion passant (for sterling standard silver); leopard's head (London assay office mark); voluntary mark to celebrate Silver Jubilee of George V and Queen Mary (their heads in profile). |
| Gallery label | 11. MAZER
Walnut with silver mounts
London, 1935-6
Mark of HG Murphy, the Jubilee mark for King George V and Queen Mary and the Falcon mark of Murphy’s workshop
This mazer with its cover was made by Louis Galvin at the same time as the set of candlesticks, one of which is included in this display (see 8). This design of Murphy’s is a modern interpretation of an Arts and Crafts revived, mediaeval prototype.
M.32-1985(2000) |
| Object history | This mazer with its cover was made by Louis Galvin at the same time as the set of candlesticks M.31-1985. This design of Murphy's is a modern interpretation of an Arts and Crafts revived, mediaeval prototype. The use of the term "maker's mark" in this context is slightly misleading, since in fact this mazer bowl and the set of candlesticks (M.31&a-1985) were entirely made by Louis Galvin to the design and under the direct supervision of H.G. Murphy. Galvin was apprenticed to Murphy and gained his freedom in the year that he made these objects. After Murphy's death in 1939, Galvin purchased this mazer bowl and the candlesticks from his widow. |
| Historical context | H.G. Murphy (1884-1939) was a pupil of Henry Wilson at the Central School of Arts and Crafts and then studied under Emil Lettre in Berlin. In 1913 he set up his own workshop in London. From 1907 he taught at the Royal College of Art and later at the Central School. He was the first silversmith to be appointed Principal of the Central School. |
| Summary | This is a modern interpretation of a medieval type of drinking vessel called a mazer. Traditionally mazers were wide flat-bottomed bowls made of close-grained hard wood with a silver rim, foot and central boss. Obsolete from the 1550s, they became newly popular when members of the Arts and Crafts Movement revived the form, as here. This one is made of walnut with silver mounts, with a silver cover with a walnut finial. Harry George Murphy (1884-1939), who designed it, established his own workshop in London in 1913. He was also an influential teacher and was the first silversmith to be appointed Principal of the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London. |
| Bibliographic reference | Eric Turner Modernism and English Silver, in V&A Album No.5, ed. John Guy, London, De Montfort Publishing Ltd., 1986 pp 247-8. ill. ISBN: 1851770771 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.32&A-1985 |
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| Record created | March 10, 2004 |
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