Frans J. R. Gyllenberg & Alfred Swanson Sterling Arts & Crafts Tea Pot, 2nd quarter 20th century

This beautiful hand raised tea pot is of squat baluster form with applied scroll handle and spout.  The foot is an applied molded drawn band, and the hinged lid is surmounted by a demi-spherical finial. The hammered surface of the metal sparkles.

Frans J. R. Gylenberg, of Swedish origin and training, joined the Handicraft Shop in Wellesley Hills, MA around 1905 executing some of Mary Knight's designs. He was admitted as a craftsman member to the Boston Society for Arts and Crafts in 1906, and became one of their best selling silversmiths.  About 1926, he went into partnership with Alfred Swanson and in 1929 was elected a 'Medalist Craftsman', the highest honor bestowed by the Society of Arts and Crafts. He was one of only seven silversmiths to receive this prestigious honor.  (See W. Scott Braznell in The Art That Is Life, pp. 180-181, 274-5) A very fine sandwich plate by them is in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

This tea pot is marked underneath with the Gyllenberg's cypher, 'A.H.S.', 'STERLING', and the model number '0021'.  This piece measures 4.75 inches high, 8 inches from spout to handle, weighs a hefty 17.95 troy ounces and is in very good condition.