A lovely set of six mixed gem set silver spoons by Frances Harling

For sale is this really lovely mixed set of gem set spoons by Frances Harling.  Whilst these spoons  are all different, they were all acquired together and five are assayed for Harling, London 1962, one simply carries the Harling mark (blue stone). I believe these must therefore be considered a set and I am selling them as such, but please approach me if you wish to acquire single spoons, to which I will give consideration (£125 each).

Not clear from the images is that five of the spoons (not the amethyst set spoon) have subtle twisted stems.  Overall these are really excellent spoons from the post -war arts and crafts movement.

Frances Harling is hardly known at all but my research casts a new light on her and her sister, Amy. Frances Harling was born Frances Charlotte Wilkins in around 1878. Preceeding her by two years was her older sister, Amy Alice Wilkins.  Their father was a boot retailer.  In the 1901 census Amy is listed as a sculptress and is recorded as exhibiting two sculptures in 1905 at the Society of Women Artists Exhibition.  She was trained at the Central School of Art.

In 1907 Amy married Julius Sandheim (she was not born into the Sandheim as if frequently reported) and so, through marriage, became the jeweller Amy Sandheim, within this established jewellery family.  In the 1911 census Amy is listed as a jewellery assistant.  Her story post 1918 is well known, establishing a highly successful shop in Notting Hill and designing wonderful jewellery similar in style to her friends Sybil Dunlop and Dorrie Nossiter.

Her sister, Frances, biography is harder to unpick but it seems she must have followed her older sister Amy into the jewellery business, most likely as her assistant. Unlike Amy there is no record of where she trained and in 1908 she married a butler, Robert Francis Harling. In the 1911 census she is listed as an assistant boot seller to her father.

By 1922 Frances has registered her own mark at the London assay office and by the 1930’s is listed as having her own jewellery shop at 85 Heath Street, Hampstead, now an interior design gallery.  See images. Frances mark is often confused with Fernand Hauville who this research now shows did no work for Sandheim, it was her sister who produced work of similar design.

Maker: Frances Harling

Designer: Frances Harling

Date: 1962

Marks: FH, London, g

Material: Sterling silver, semi-precious stones

Condition: Excellent

Size: Approx 10 cm long

Weight: 2.2 oz, 63 grams total

This object includes complimentary, Insured Shipping / Delivery within the UK

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

Stock number