Mazer, Omar Ramsden, silver, enamel and maplewood, English, 1921

Mazer, maplewood with silver and enamel mounts. Enamelled print inside of St. Martin giving the cloak to a beggar. Rim of silver with rope moulding and frieze of inverted trefoils and engraved with medieval decoration and the inscription 'Acceptissima semper munera sunt auctor quai pretiosa facit' (The gifts which are most precious are those executed by the giver.' The bottom rim is inscribed 'I was wrought by Omar Ramsden for John Naphtali A.D. 1921'.

Given by Miss M.A.M. Hart

Hart Gift
Label: Omar Ramsden trained at the Sheffield School of Art but spent his career in London. He set up in partnership with Alwyn Carr in 1899. After the First World War, Carr left the partnership and Ramsden ran the studio alone. He was particularly successful in producing well made silver in a fashionable Arts and Crafts style. After Carr left the partnership, Ramsden became increasingly fascinated by medieval mazer bowls, producing a series modelled on those acquired by the Museum in 1906 (case 8 Room 65). Ramsden's interest in historic silver had been kindled by the antiquary, St John Hope who introduced him to the first Keeper of Metalwork, William Watts.
The scene on the 'print', the enamelled boss in the centre of the bowl is of St. Martin giving a cloak to a beggar.

M.17-1974