Chafing Dish
ca. 1900 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The purpose of a chafing dish is to keep food warm. W.A.S. Benson's strikingly original and simple designs exploited the combination of copper and brass. Copper is easily worked and retains its strength. It also conducts heat. Brass handles allow this dish to be carried without risk of burnt fingers. An electroplated liner inside protects the food from being contaminated by the copper.
Benson was a friend of William Morris, who nicknamed him 'Mr Brass Benson' and encouraged him to set up a metal-working business. Benson had a factory in Hammersmith and a showroom in London’s stylish West End. His designs revived the use of copper, and made it a fashionable material for the wealthy classes to own. Unlike some arts and crafts contemporaries Benson used machines, although his style was in keeping with the movement. He designed for Morris & Co. and took over the firm when Morris died.. He was also a member of the Art Workers Guild and a founder of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society in 1888. In 1914, Benson's factory was used to manufacture munitions for the First World War. Having no heirs, Benson decided to close down the works in 1920.
Benson was a friend of William Morris, who nicknamed him 'Mr Brass Benson' and encouraged him to set up a metal-working business. Benson had a factory in Hammersmith and a showroom in London’s stylish West End. His designs revived the use of copper, and made it a fashionable material for the wealthy classes to own. Unlike some arts and crafts contemporaries Benson used machines, although his style was in keeping with the movement. He designed for Morris & Co. and took over the firm when Morris died.. He was also a member of the Art Workers Guild and a founder of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society in 1888. In 1914, Benson's factory was used to manufacture munitions for the First World War. Having no heirs, Benson decided to close down the works in 1920.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Raised copper and cast brass, the liner originally electroplated with silver |
| Brief description | Copper with brass fittings, the inner liner originally silvered, London ca.1900, mark of W.A.S. Benson. |
| Physical description | Chafing dish, raised copper, with cast brass handles and electroplated liner. The dish rests on a small, circular base with swelling sides, "S" shaped in cross section rising to a double stepped rim. The cover is in the form of a straight sided cone turning inwards at the rim. The apex is surmounted by a flanged, cast brass finial. The handles, attached to the rim of the base by screws, have splayed sides, knuckle joints and spacers which swell in cross section, in the middle. The brass inner liner is a shallow dish with a wide flat base, curved sides and an everted rim. Two small baluster shaped projections with knurled rims are screwed to the inner side of the rim, directly opposite each other to facilitate removal of the liner. The liner was originally electroplated and traces of the original silvering are still apparent. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | Maker's mark for W.A.S. Benson |
| Object history | Illustrated in the Benson catalogue for 1899-1900, plate 28, Tableware No.671 and described as follows: Entree Dish with silvered inner dish, as shewn . £2.5s.0d. Best Electroplate £3.3s0d.. Purchased from Sotheby's, New Bond Street, 30/09/1983 for £66.90 |
| Summary | The purpose of a chafing dish is to keep food warm. W.A.S. Benson's strikingly original and simple designs exploited the combination of copper and brass. Copper is easily worked and retains its strength. It also conducts heat. Brass handles allow this dish to be carried without risk of burnt fingers. An electroplated liner inside protects the food from being contaminated by the copper. Benson was a friend of William Morris, who nicknamed him 'Mr Brass Benson' and encouraged him to set up a metal-working business. Benson had a factory in Hammersmith and a showroom in London’s stylish West End. His designs revived the use of copper, and made it a fashionable material for the wealthy classes to own. Unlike some arts and crafts contemporaries Benson used machines, although his style was in keeping with the movement. He designed for Morris & Co. and took over the firm when Morris died.. He was also a member of the Art Workers Guild and a founder of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society in 1888. In 1914, Benson's factory was used to manufacture munitions for the First World War. Having no heirs, Benson decided to close down the works in 1920. |
| Bibliographic reference | Shirley Bury, Country Life, March 18, 1965 "The Craftsman who used the Machine" |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.936 to B-1983 |
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| Record created | December 16, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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