Arthur Stone Sterling Silver Centerpiece or Fruit Bowl,  1909-19

This sterling silver bowl was hand-raised by David Carlson, one of the leading silversmiths at the Arthur Stone shop.  His level of expertise is quite evident by the raised, paneled body with flaring rim.  Although it may appear to be a simple bowl, the graceful curve of the body and the narrow, tapered panels emerging from the base of the bowl required exceptional skill to execute.  An identical bowl which was gifted to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1934 is pictured in Arthur J. Stone 1847-1938 Designer and Silversmith by Elenita C. Chickering (p .145).  According to Chickering, this model was known in the shop as the 'V-panel' bowl because of the shape of the panels.

Provenance: From the estate of Hugh J. Grant, Jr. 

Hugh J. Grant, Sr. (1858-1910) was the first Irish-American mayor of New York City, serving form 1889-1892. At the age of 31, he was also the youngest mayor in that city's history.  Grant married Julia M. Murphy (1872-1944), the daughter of New York Senator Edward Murphy, Jr. (1836 -1911), in 1895. 

A successful real estate investor, Grant lived with his family in their 10,960 square foot mansion at 20 East 72nd Street that was designed by the architectural firm of Rose and Stone.  They purchased  many of the finest decorative arts then available including an exceptional Gorham Martelé ewer and basin, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (see here).

The Grants were important philanthropists and major donors to the Catholic Church, providing the funds to establish Regis High School (a Jesuit school for the poor and gifted, see here), in New York.  The Grants fully funded the school until the 1960's.  Hugh J. Grant, Jr. gifted the 72nd Street mansion to the Archdiocese of New York.  It is currently the residence of the Vatican's ambassador to the United Nations and serves as the Pope's residence when visiting New York City.

This wonderful sterling silver bowl is marked underneath with Stone's impressed hammer mark along with 'STERLING/ C'.  The 'C' denotes work by David Carlson who achieved the honor of 'Master Craftsman' within the Society of Arts & Crafts and who worked for Stone from 1909-19. The bowl measures 9.75 inches round by 5 inches high and weighs 24.65 troy ounces. It is in excellent antique condition and has never been monogrammed.

Our Price:   SOLD

Item code: F99