Marks Antiques
Mayfair, London
A VICTORIAN PARCEL-GILT SILVER AND TWO-COLOUR GOLD 'AESTHETIC' PATTERN BOWL
maker's mark probably that of
JOHNSON & SPRINGTHORPE
overstruck by that of
FREDERICK ELKINGTON for ELKINGTON & CO as retailers
LONDON, 1883
On spreading circular base, the almost hemispherical bowl engraved with sprays of briar roses and other flowering plants, bamboos and other motifs, further decorated with applied gold cartouches enclosing gold birds and engraved foliage, gilt interior
Diameter 4 ½ in, 11.4 cm; 6 oz 10 dwt, 200 gr; the underside stamped: '945', and engraved: 'ELKINGTON & Co. / MANCHESTER'
Johnson & Springthorpe
for Elkington & Co
 |
The firm of Johnson & Springthorpe, whose partners were John Williams Johnson and Alfred Springthorpe, succeeded in 1882 to the business of George John Richards, subsequently Richards & Brown. During the 1870s and until its closure at the end of the 1880s the firm seems to have specialised in silver and silver-gilt whose patterns were inspired by the Aesthetic Movement.