Arthur Stone Arts & Crafts Sterling Silver Soup Spoons, set of 8, 1918

These magnificent spoons were hand-made in Arthur Stone's Gardner, Massachusetts shop in the early 20th century. The elongated bowls with short handles are an unusual shape as are the pierced hanging bunches of chased grapes within gothic-inspired tops. Finely incised lines decorate the front lengths of the handles and the oval lozenges.

Engraved on the backs are 'J.A.T' monograms and the date '1918.' 
Julia A. Trask was an Associate Life Member of the Society of Arts & Crafts in Boston and an important patron of the Boston arts and crafts movement. In 2005, we sold an Arthur Stone decorated oval salver with the same monogram and date (see here). A similar round salver also engraved 'J.A.T/ 1918' is pictured in Arthur J. Stone, 1847-1938: Designer and Silversmith by Elenita C. Chickering, catalog number 122, p. 142, color plate XXII, p. 83.

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, Charles W. Brown would have formed the pieces, and Arthur Stone would have done the pierce-work and chasing. (Brown was only one of eight silversmiths who received the designation of 'Medalist' from the Society of Arts & Crafts in Boston – its highest honor). 

These exceptional and rare spoons are marked with Stone's anvil trademark along with a sideways 'B' for Brown and 'STERLING.' They measure 6.75 long, weigh a combined 10.60 troy ounces, and are in excellent antique condition.