Item 476

A copper tobacco jar by the Dryad Metal Works, circa 1915,

This is probably the nicest piece of Dryad metalwork I have been lucky enough to find. It is fully marked to the base along with a very early design number, “22”. It feels very much in the style of the Guild of Handicraft and so I suspect it was designed by John Sidney Reeve who worked alongside C. R. Ashbee at the Guild before teaching at the Leicester School of Art and providing designs for Dryad Metal Works.. 

The hand planished container has a flared based with very simple repousse circles around the sides, all with punched edges. There is also the characteristic rope twist decoration around the body. The lid has several repousse circles with punched decoration. There is a later inscription which states “Presented to Alderman T. Rowland Hill, J.P. Lord Mayor of Leicester, at the opening of the new wing for children. Roecliffe Manor Convalescent Home. Woodhouse Eaves. October 6th. 1951. J.W. Stockdale Harrison F.R.I.B.A. Maurice White Pike F.R.I.B.A. Architects.”

In lovely condition this feels like a rather special piece of Dryad metalwork.