The Napkin Ring Site

English arts and crafts

Data

Place

England, Birmingham

Time                              1908
Maker:                           William H. Haseler
Style                              English arts and crafts
Material                         Sterling silver and blister pearl
Silver techniques            Pearl setting on undecorated front.

Measures

Diameter of front 41 mm
Width of silver band 20 mm
Smallest diameter of opening: 30 mm
Largest diameter of opening 50 mm

Inscriptions None

References

Victor Arwas, Liberty Style, Parco 1983.
Christies catalogue 9. Oct. 1992 (Hodel 4844), lot 166

Marks

Collector’s comments

This napkin ring was found on London’s Portobello market in the 1990’es. It is a good example of the arts and crafts silversmiths’ experimental designs.

The maker W.H. Haseler was the “co” in the famous makers' mark “L & Co” for Liberty and Company found on all Liberty’s Cymric” silver. Cymric napkin rings are typically decorated with Celtic ornaments and enamelled in the bright and shiny colours of the peacock. Examples are shown in Victor Arwas, Liberty Style, p. 119 and137. Liberty made the designs and Haseler produced the items. With or without Liberty’s consent it appears that Haseler also produced and marketed similar designs with their own W.H.H mark. Most of these pieces are also enamelled in peacock colours. An example is shown in Victor Arwas, Liberty Style, page 126. See also http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&screen=lotdetailsNoFlash&iSaleItemNo=3311514&iSaleNo=14200

Decoration with blister pearls was not uncommon in English arts and crafts silver, but on napkin rings the only other example I know of was auctioned by Christies in 1992 (see reference above).