I’ve been a collector of antiques for over 30 years and have been dealing and operating my business, Century Antiques for over 10 years.
I’ve been successfully trading from my eBay store and at antique fairs during that 10 years and am now expanding into other selling platforms.
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Arts & Crafts Sterling Silver Baptismal Font Goblet - Birmingham 1926
Certified DealerApproved listing131 sales by dealerFree Delivery
Certified DealerApproved listing131 sales by dealerFree Delivery
Description
This is a really nice looking piece of silver, styled as what I believe to be a baptismal font.
The item carries full U.K. hallmarks for Birmingham 1926, with the makers mark being for S. Blanckensee & Son Ltd, who were based on Frederick Street and Great Hampton Street in the city.
Though petite in size, it has a beautiful form - the round bowl area has hammered or planished roundels around its circumference, with a decorative stylised leaf band. The stem widens as it reaches the lobed base, which also has a leaf band around it.
From what I've seen, Blanckensee made this size of cup and a slightly larger version (albeit a slight variation on this design) - I've seen both sterling silver and silver gilt versions.
I can't be sure if this design is based on a real font, or if it's an amalgamation of different ones, or maybe it's just pure fantasy!
As can be seen in picture 5, there is a light gold wash to the underside of the cup - there is no visible evidence of this gilding or wash in any other areas of the cup.
Altogether, it's a very beautiful and well made little goblet!
measurements
Height:
6.9 cm
Weight:
91.8 g
Width across the rim at the top: 6.7cm
Width across the base: 6.6cm
Weight: 91.8g / 2.95ozt
measurements
declaration
Century Antiques has clarified that the Arts & Crafts Sterling Silver Baptismal Font Goblet - Birmingham 1926 (LA404311) is genuinely of the period declared with the date/period of manufacture being 1926
declaration
condition
condition
The condition is very good indeed, with no major faults to report. There are no dents, splits or repairs to the silver, and it retains a good 'in round' shape. As can be seen in pictures 8 and 9, there are some very minor marks to the inside of the bowl, these are normal signs of use and wear, and are most certainly not damage. There is a little rubbing to the name of the silversmith on the cup, but the date letter, lion passant mark and assay office mark are clearly readable.