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Gerald Benney Silver Spoon - Worshipful Company of Carpenters 500 Anniversary, 1477-1977
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Reference: S11204
Period: Elizabeth II
Year: 1977
Silversmith: Gerald Benney
Place: London
Price: $ 240.00
Weight: 30 grams
Dimensions: 13.8 cm
Condition: Excellent.
Description: An interesting hand crafted silver spoon, made to commemorate the 500 Anniversary of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters in 1977 by Gerald Benney, one of the most influential British silversmiths of the second half of the 20th century. The spoon is a lovely shape, almost puritan in style, and is engraved with the coat of arms of the Carpenters company above the dates 1477 and 1977. The spoon is the size of a large teaspoon, these were awarded as gifts to Liverymen. The coat of arms can be read as "a field silver, a chevron sable (black) grailed and three compasses of the same", the compasses represent carpenters tools and the chevron a roof support. The hallmarks are excellent, they could not be better, and include makers mark AGB in cojoined circles and Silver Jubilee mark used in 1977. Gerald Benney is included as one of the top 50 British silversmiths of his era in the book "Designer British Silver 1930-1985", pgs 86-105, by Andrew & Pearson, a book we highly recommend. He is the only British silversmith to hold 4 Royal warrants at the same time. His peers rated him as "probably the best known name in silversmithing today", but frowned upon his involvement with industry (he was Consultant Designer to Viners of Sheffield, designing pieces for silver, pewter and stainless steel production, and interestingly his royalty remuneration exceeded that of the Viner's Chairman!, see page 91. He was also appointed Royal Designer for Industry in 1971.) Most important for the development of silver design he was appointed Professor at the Royal College of Art from 1974-1983. Stuart Devlin has stated that Benney caused the renaissance in British silver following World War II. The Pearson Silver Collection (www.pearsoncollection.com) holds 53 pieces by Benney, so he must be the most collected silversmith by the collection.
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Gerald Benney sterling silver spoon
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Worshipful Company of Carpenters 500 Anniversary, 1477-1977
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Gerald Benney sterling silver spoon back
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Gerald Benney London silver hallmarks
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Benney Carpenters silver spoon 1477
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