Arthur Stone Arts & Crafts Sterling Silver Decorated Bowl, Gardner, Massachusetts, 1919

Examples of decorated sterling from the shop of Arthur Stone are pretty scarce and always interesting. Beautifully proportioned, this bowl, with an inverted rim, is a beautiful example of hand-raised silver. It has a plain applied band around the outside edge, a complementary banded foot, and features the lovely soft hammered surface typical of Stone's shop.

Chased around the upper side of the bowl are vines intertwined with six pairs of leaves and berries. The relationship between the intertwined pairs of berries design and this being an anniversary present is quite sweet. Engraved underneath is 'First Anniversary/ Oct. 9, 1919/ MARRY & KIM.'

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. However, Stone allowed his journeymen to mark their work, unlike other shops. In this case, David Carlson raised this piece, and Stone decorated it. Carlson worked for Stone from 1909-19 and achieved 'Master Craftsman' status bestowed by the Society of Arts & Crafts, Boston.

This bowl is marked underneath with the Stone trademark, 'STERLING,' and Carlson's 'C' mark. It measures 6 inches in diameter by just under 2.25 inches high, weighs 10.55 troy ounces, and is in excellent antique condition.