Arthur Stone Arts & Crafts Sterling Meat Platter, Gardiner, MA, 1921

This oval serving platter is a lovely example of this form from the shop of Arthur Stone.  Applied wires create a lovely reeded border. Chased along the interior of the border is a lobed design with raised, oval dots. Engraved on one end is 'J.D  J. N' under a 'C' and on the other end, 'JUNE 30' over '1896 - 1921', an obvious 25th anniversary gift.

Arthur J. Stone ran the preeminent arts & crafts silver shop in New England, possibly the country. Items were hand made using traditional silversmithing techniques. An innovator, Stone let the other masters who worked for him sign the items they made. This platter was raised by Herbert Taylor, Stone's 'right hand man' and possibly the most accomplished silversmith who worked for Stone. 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 was the first silversmith to win the award.)

The decoration was executed by Arthur Stone himself. One of the most talented chasers of his era, Stone gained the reputation of the 'dean of silversmiths'.

Marked with Stone's trademark, 'STERLING' and 'T' for Herbert Taylor, this lovely item measures 9 inches across the handles by just over 16 inches long by 11.25 wide, weighs 33.85 troy ounces and is in very good condition with light scratching to the interior from use.