Arthur Stone Sterling Silver Arts & Crafts Ernest Dane Zodiac Child's Cup, 1907

Stunning design and execution are exhibited with this rare Arts & Crafts child's cup by Arthur Stone. An amazing amount of work went into creating this wonderful cup which was raised by Herbert Taylor and decorated by Arthur Stone.

The tapered body is elegantly chased to form panels, with oak leaves and branches chased in the upper corners. A finely chased line also decorates the edges of the handle. A stunning band of raised designs decorates the upper section. Overlapping fish swimming in opposite directions and an artistic 'ED' monogram emerge from this decoration. Stone's execution of the fish is his deliberate incorporation of the zodiac symbol for Pisces.

Pictured in Arthur J. Stone, 1847-1938: Designer and Silversmith by Elenita C. Chickering, figure 45, p. 108, is the original design drawing for this cup. This drawing is now part of the Stone papers at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Catalog number 43 pictures two other pieces from part this child's service. It is chased "EDWARD DANE/ FEBRUARY 24, 1907" and is decorated with the same leaves and fish. This service was ordered by Edward's father, Ernest B. Dane.

Ernest Blaney Dane married Helen Pratt, daughter of Standard Oil trust member Charles Pratt. Dane, himself a wealth investor and president of the Brookline Savings and Trust Co., was one of Stone's best early clients. More information about the Danes and their estate, Roughwood (on Heath St. in Brookline), can be found here.

Arthur Stone was the undisputed master silversmith of the Boston arts and crafts movement. His shop produced some of the finest silver ever made, and many of the journeymen who worked for him were masters in their own right. Unlike other shops, Stone allowed his journeymen to mark their work. In this case, Herbert Taylor raised this piece. Taylor was one of only eight silversmiths to win the award of 'Medalist', the highest honor for craft bestowed by the Society of Arts & Crafts, Boston. Stone did all the chasing on pieces made before his 1924 stroke. It is these pieces, showing Stone's own hand, which are most prized by collectors and museums.

This rare cup is marked underneath with Stone's trademark and 'STERLING/ T'. It measures 3.25 inches high by 4 inches across the handle, weighs 8.15 troy ounces and is in very good antique condition.