Adolphe Kunkler Sterling Arts and Crafts Dish, Boston, MA, 1903

This is an early example of arts & crafts silver from Boston. It is the first piece of silver by Kunkler we have ever had for sale. The dish has a flat bottom and raised body with a lovely hammered surface. The flat edge is beautifully chased and engraved with a scrolling wave-like design against a background of horizontal, squiggly lines. The handles are wonderful Celtic knots.

Adolphe Kunkler was a Master Craftsman at the Boston Society of Arts & Crafts and briefly a member of the Handicraft Shop of Wellesley Hills. He worked in both wood and metal; his pieces are rarely seen on the market. As his active working dates are from 1901-22, this is a very early example. (1)

This lovely, small dish is signed 'AK' for Adolphe Kunkler and stamped 'STERLING/ 1903.' It measures 7 inches across the handles by .75 inches high, weighs 5.65 troy ounces and is in very good antique condition.

Endnote:

1. Karen Evans Ulehla, The Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston: Exhibition Record 1897-1927, (Boston: Boston Public Library, 1981), p. 129.