Pair of Hayes & McFarland 'Sun Ray' Art Deco Sterling Vases, Mount Vernon, NY, c. 1928

Great examples of American Art Deco silver are quite scarce, and this imposing pair of 9 1/2-inch vases is exceptional. Rising from a thick, circular ring are v-shaped flutes executed with wonderful precision. These flutes have v-shaped tops, creating a lovely, decorative edge that defines the reflective, vertical panels that gracefully flare outwards heading toward their rims. Four curved stepped feet are attached to the circular ring. These magnificent, bold design elements convey strength and beauty along with stunning elegance.

In 1937, an identical vase was exhibited at The Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of a silver exhibit showcasing contemporary modern silver with the purpose of giving "some indication of present trends in design, specifically of current tendencies in the interpretation of what is now generally called the modern style." (1)

Hayes & McFarland was part of Mt. Vernon Silversmiths, Inc. which was owned by the Gorham Manufacturing Company, and Spaulding & Co. was owned by Gorham.

Provenance:
Berman's Auction Gallery, May 16, 2001, and
Percy's Silver, London, 2011
Private Collection.

Exhibited:
Model exhibited at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC, NY. Silver, An Exhibition of Contemporary Design, 17th Annual Exhibition of Current Manufacturers Designed and Made in the United States, Apr. 11 - May 23, 1937.

Literature:
Model illustrated: Modern Silver Put on Display, The New York Sun, Apr 10, 1937, p. 10.
Model illustrated: Helen Johnson Keyes, Contemporary American Silver, Christian Science Monitor, May 1, 1937, p. 7.

These magnificent vases are marked underneath  'Sterling/ 831.' One is also stamped with Hayes & McFarland's trademark and '925/1000.' The other vase is also marked 'SPAULDING & Co/ CHICAGO,' which was a great retailer in Chicago. They measure 7 inches in diameter at the top by just under 9.5 inches tall, weigh a combined 99.45 troy ounces and are in excellent near-antique condition with some light scratching from use.

Footnotes:

1. Metropolitan Museum of Art: Silver, An Exhibition of Contemporary Design, 17th Annual Exhibition of Current Manufacturers Designed and Made in the United States, Apr. 11 - May 23, 1937, (New York: George Grady Press, 1937), p.5.