Jug: M.9-1990

Maker(s)

Silversmith: Marks, Gilbert Leigh

Entities

• Jug
• claret jug

Categories

• Silver

Description

Silver; facetted, lightly hammered sides decorated with a swag of vine leaves, grapes and ribbons

Silver with gilt interior, cast, repousse and chased. Faceted and spot-hammered ovoid body, the shoulders repousse and chased with a swag of vine leaves and bunches of grapes on ribbon tied in bows, slightly domed circular foot with border of stylised leaves and cast harp-shaped handle with shell terminals.

Notes

History note: Commissioned by Miss Challoner's grandfather

Legal notes

Given by Miss Molly Challoner

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1990-07-23) by Challoner, Molly, Miss

Dating

19th Century, Late
Victoria I
1898 CE - 1899 CE

Note

Born in 1861 in Croydon, south London (where he remained until his premature death from syphilis), Marks appears to have developed his silversmithing skills in his spare time. In 1896, although still working as ‘something in the City’, he had two assistants, who helped him produce his metalwork and by 1901 was working full-time as a silversmith. His work, in silver and pewter, hammered with tools from both the front and the back to create raised decoration, was praised for its handmade qualities. Most of his pieces were in a naturalistic style, incorporating plants or animals. His obituary in The Burlington Magazine referred to his insistence ‘that the smith must be at once the designer, the artist, and craftsman. Marks would have no dies, no machinery, no repetitions.’ His early death resulted in his significant contributions to the Arts and Crafts movement being overlooked.

School or Style

Arts and Crafts (movement)