VERY FINE PAIR OF ENGLISH SILVERPLATED COBALT GLASS CHESTNUT URNS
Marked
for Barker-Ellis of Birmingham, England | made circa 1912-1931 | with
maker's mark to underside [seven-branch menorah], signed "England" and
impressed "8" along with silversmith's scratched notations
Item # 312DPP11Z
An
exceedingly fine pair of chestnut or candy urns by the renowned
silversmithing firm Barker-Ellis of Birmingham, England, the menorah
marker's mark was reportedly used by Barker-Ellis starting in 1912 and
continued to be in use by the firm through 1931 [see the Smithsonian
Museum of American History, acc. no. 1988.0569.07 for a tray of the same
marking and documented dates of use]. The present version of the
menorah mark is an earlier version of the marking and probably places
the pair of urns to circa 1920.
The urns feature a carved
pineapple finial with exquisitely chiseled and chased leaves over a
coved lid, this lifting off to reveal a spacious interior with removable
hand-blown cobalt glass inserts. These are incredibly rare and
positively gorgeous, highly cherished by collectors and conneisseurs and
most frequently lost or damaged over the years - the present pair
remain in exquisite condition with tiny air bubbles blown throughout the
glass and a rich deep blue color throughout.
On either side of
the urns hang magnificent lion's head masks with rings hanging from
their mouths, four in total. These are of inordinately good quality, the
castings above reproach and the chasing of the masks exquisitely
articulated - particularly in the fur of the face, in which impossibly
small lines of hair are incised before a bold mane.
The urns rest over square plinths raised on ball feet, the undersides being marked as noted.
Pairs
of these urns are exceedingly hard to find, particularly with the
cobalt blue glass and in this spectacular state of condition. An
extraordinarily fine pair of statement pieces that are self-evident in
their mastery of the details.
Measurements: 13" H x 4 5/8" W/D (at the base) x 6 1/2" W (at the handles)
Condition Report:
Some
rubbing through the silverplate to the copper substrate as expected in
areas of high handling (notably the lion's masks and rings, corners of
the base and other edges]; one nut under the pineapple finial (inside of
lid) replaced with a custom fabricated steel nut polished to nearly
identically match the original; a brilliant presentation.