Postby dognose » Sat Oct 18, 2014 1:54 pm
On the Saturday following the Cutlers Feast at Sheffield last month, the Master Cutler, Mr. S. Earnshaw Howell, was presented by his workpeople with a dessert service in sterling silver, manufactured by Messrs. Walker & Hall, of the Electro Works, Howard Street, Sheffield. It forms a centre piece and four side fruit stands, which are similar in design. The centre stand consists of a rich dish of oblong pattern, made of English cut crystal glass, the corners rounded and ornamented to a gondola shape ; it is secured in a frame decorated in relief with a Grecian pattern, the latter being supported by four grandly modelled sphinxes in silver gilt. The sphinxes, placed at the corners, repose on a base heraldic in form, resting on four claw feet exquisitely modelled and tastefully adorned. The base is in dead silver, and, beyond the Greek pattern round the edge, the only ornament is the crest of Mr. Howell and the inscription. The smaller stands are similar, excepting that the fruit dishes are square instead of oblong. The dessert service is an exceptionally good example of the silver craft. The Mistress Cutler was at the same time presented with a magnificent bracelet.
In addition to the Master Cutler's gift, two other examples of silver, locally produced, call for mention. The " Bingham Challenge Shield," by the same firm, is the gift of Lieutenant-Col. J. E. Bingham, of the Sheffield Engineers, to encourage rifle shooting. It is valued at £250, is circular in form, and 6 ft. 10 in. in circumference, the border being a cleverly-chased laurel wreath of oxidised silver ; the second circle is a broad band of exquisitely cast and chased scroll work resting on a dead silver ground ; and the third is made of a number of heraldic shields, with the arms of each volunteer regiment enamelled in colours, each illuminated shield being linked by small enriched gilt studs to a bright silver shield of similar shape, left plain for inscribing the names of the various corps fortunate enough to win the prizes. The centre of the shield consists of a magnificently modelled lion's head of oxidised silver, surrounded with a circular scroll, upon which is raised, in gilt block letters, the words, " The Bingham Challenge Shield." There is much more elaborate work, in the way of illustrating military duty, with the emblems of the United Kingdom. The shield is mounted on a frame covered with rich maroon velvet, and is fixed to the frame by four solid silver bolts, the large heads of which are ornamented with engravings of York, Leeds, Sheffield and Bradford, the four principal places in Yorkshire. The 3rd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, known as the Leeds Rifles, are the first winners.
Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st October 1888
Trev.