18th May, 2024 9:30 GMT/BST
Jewellery, Watches & Silver
2299
A George V Silver Caster
by Henry George Murphy, London, 1933, With Falcon Studios Mark
in the Art Deco style, tapering cylindrical and on spreading foot, overall engraved with angular ornament, the bayonet-mounted cover with baluster finial; Together With a similar salt-cellar, maker's mark H&Sn, overstriking another, London, 1933
the caster 12.5cm high, the salt-cellar 72mm diameter, total weight 7oz 19dwt, 248gr (2)
Paul Atterbury and John Benjamin describe the years after 1932 as 'a highly productive period [for Murphy]' and '... [a] period defined by a significant change in style, particularly in the field of silversmithing, with a new emphasis on line engraving and the modernist and geometric forms of Art Deco...' (P. Atterbury and J. Benjamin, Arts and Crafts to Art Deco The Jewellery and Silver of H. G. Murphy, Woodbridge, 2005, p. 30), which is certainly an apt description of the present caster. It has seemingly not been determined who was responsible for the engraving on these type of objects but George Taylor Friend, an accomplished engraver, was certainly known to not only be a friend of Murphy but also to have undertaken engraving work for him. It is interesting to see a very similar example in a photograph of a display of Murphy's silver taken in the 1930s at the Red Rose Guild, Manchester (op. cit, p. 32). A nearly identical, though slightly later, example of the same model was sold at Woolley and Wallis, 30 April 2008, lot 800.
Sold for £1,000
Estimated at £500 - £800
Each piece fully marked underneath. The caster further part-maked on cover bezel and stamped underneath with Falcon studio mark. The marks are generally clear. There is some minor surface scratching and wear, consistent with age and use. There are some bruises to the sides of the salt-cellar.
Auction: Jewellery, Watches & Silver, 18th May, 2024
The May Jewellery, Watches and Silver Sale will include an interesting group of late 17th and 18th century silver, lead by a circa 1650 Memento Mori Watch-Case in the form of a Skull, and a William III Silver Punch Bowl made in London in 1697 by Benjamin Pyne. Also of interest is a group of three lots of silver by early 20th century master silversmith H.G. Murphy, and a silver sculptural trophy of Shakespeare, given in memory of an actor killed in WWII, is to be sold by the Hull Music Festival to raise funds to support the education and development of young performers in the area.
The Jewellery section will be opened by a selection of silver jewellery by Georg Jensen, which will include a stylish matching set of ‘Forget-Me-Knot’ Earrings and Brooch designed by Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe for Georg Jensen. Colourful jewels are also amongst the highlights, with pieces by Catherine Best and H. Stern, and a Citrine and Diamond Brooch. There are also several sets of Gentleman's Cufflinks.
A good offering of World War II Military Watches, from a Private Collection, lead a wide variety of vintage collectable and luxury watches, alongside a selection of pocket watches. Highlights include a rare circa 1944 IWC Mark X Military Issue Wristwatch – one of the so called “Dirty Dozen”, a 2006 18 carat gold Hermès Lady’s Cape Cod Wristwatch, and a rare 1809 Silver Eight Day Duration Verge Pocket Watch with Calendar Display by Jno Hill of London.
Viewing
Wednesday 15 May - Friday 17 May 10am-4pm and the morning of sale from 8am
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