Charles Robert Ashbee (1863-1942) for the Guild of Handicraft, a rare silver and glass wine decanter

the pale green Powell glass body of ovoid form and rising to a slender neck mounted with planished hinged collar and cover, the sweeping handle connected to the wrythen brace, the collar hallmarked for London, 1901
21.5cm high

Literature:
For similar examples, see Crawford, Alan, C.R. Ashbee: Architect, Designer & Romantic Socialist, Yale University Press, London and New Haven, 2005, p.331

Although initially reading history at Cambridge before training as an architect, it was not long before the burgeoning Arts & Crafts movement caught the attention of Charles Robert Ashbee. Inspired by the writings of John Ruskin and William Morris, Ashbee established a series of Decorative Arts classes in Whitechapel. Following the success of these workshops, in 1888, Ashbee founded the Guild of Handicraft, a collective of artisans dedicated to a philosophy that valued honest workmanship and recognised the moral union of art and labour. In addition to the ideological ambitions of Ashbee's Guild, it was also a significant employer in a profoundly deprived area, employing around 50 men between 1888 and 1902.

Ashbee's vision extended beyond London, and in 1902, Ashbee moved his Guild from the East End of London to the rural town of Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire. This relocation was a physical manifestation of Ashbee's core belief that meaningful work could only truly flourish in a communal and pastoral setting. Although the Guild was ultimately a short-lived venture, liquidating in 1907, the influence of both Ashbee and the Guild cannot be understated.

Condition Report

In seemingly good condition, with no reason to suspect the glass is anything but the original, no chips or damages ddetected in the glass. The joint where the horizontal silver bands meet the vertical band on the opposite side to the handle has come apart a little, but remains fixed (see images). The cover sits app. 1mm proud of the rim and there is some very minor scratching to the hinge. There is some internal staining to the glass. The lid does not have any hallmarks.