Item 468

A  copper charger with an interesting story to tell. Most likely designed and made by one of the Williams family and retailed through Liberty & Co, circa 1900.

The centre of the charger has the ever popular design of a galleon in full sail. The edge has a repeating pattern of fish. Attributing this charger accurately is quite challenging. The design of the fish is very like designs by the former Guild of Handicraft metalworker,  John Williams. I have included an image of a similar fish design on a wall box which was illustrated in The Artist periodical in 1902. My feeling is that the overall design is by John Williams. However I doubt that the charger was actually made by him. John produced designs for both the Newton School of Metal Work and the Fivemiletown Class and it is possible it was made by one of the workers at these classes. However, John also produced designs with, and for, his two sisters, Mary and Annie. Both sisters were full time metalworkers and my feeling is that one of them made this piece as the quality of the repousse work is superb.

To top it all off I believe this design was retailed by Liberty & Co around 1900. This exact charger is pictured on top of a Liberty & Co Witlaf oak sideboard in Daryl Bennett’s excellent book on Liberty’s Furniture (page 139). I have seen other metalwork advertised by Liberty & Co which suggested to me that it had some link to the Williams family so it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the two Williams sisters, who were based in London,  produced a few designs for the store alongside many other Arts and Crafts makers of the day.