Large Murrle Bennett modernist silver bowl

Murrle Bennett modernist silver bowl.

For sale is this good sized Murrle Bennett silver bowl, in their classic jugendstil meets British arts and crafts modernist, deco style.  With geometric rivet design.  Very much an “ahead of its time” piece.

The designers of this bowl were undoubtedly one or both of R Win or F Rico. I say this with confidence based on an article in the Studio (volume 36 page 161, 1905) that illustrates jewellery by Murrle Bennett, clearly in the style of this bowl.  See images.  Win and Rico are given as the designers but it is unclear if the pieces were all a joint effort or if one or other made different pieces individually.  Certainly it looks as though there are two distinct design styles at work, so possibly not a joint design effort.

I can find no further information on either  Win or Rico, do please be in touch if you have anything further to add.  Clearly one or both were designers of real talent who have been lost to history.

Murrle Bennett was an Anglo German firm that made silver for Liberty and under its own name, often after Liberty or Archibald Knox designs.

This is the same bowl as appears in my archive A927.

Maker: Murrle Bennett & Co.

Designer: R Win/F Rico – see description.

Date : 1903.

Marks: MB& Co, London import mark, date letter “h”.

Material: Sterling silver.

Condition: Excellent.

Size: 18 cm diameter, 3.5 cm tall.

Weight : 262 grams, 9.2 oz.

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

Stock number