Arthur Stone Arts & Crafts Sterling Silver Rose Decorated Bowl, Gardner, Massachusetts, c. 1915

Examples of decorated sterling from the shop of Arthur Stone are quite scarce and always interesting. Beautifully proportioned, this large bowl is a wonderful example of hand raised silver. It has a hand drawn applied band around the rim, a complementary banded foot and features the lovely soft hammered surface typical of Stone's shop. Stunning chasing create 6 flowers in full bloom on long stems rising from the base. Precise fine lines create the stems, each with five small thorns. Near the tops of the stems are two offshoots with three leaves on each below exceptionally chased roses.

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 A. Taylor raised this piece and Stone decorated it. Taylor worked for Stone from 1906-37 and was considered 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.

This bowl is marked underneath with the Stone trademark, 'STERLING', and Taylor's 'T' mark. It measures 9.5 inches in diameter, 4 inches high and weighs 24.60 troy ounces. It is in excellent antique condition.