Gilbert Marks Art Nouveau Salver, 1899

This is an extremely rare piece silver plate made by one of the most highly desirable of all English silversmiths - Gilbert Marks. This beautifully decorated hand-made salver bears the typical floral chasing that one would expect from Marks on a spot-hammered back ground - all his pieces are unique but the quality of chasing remains his trademark and easily identifies his work. 

This salver bears his engraved signature with the 1899 date and London hallmarks with his distinctive "GM" makers mark. The condition is excellent and the original patina is retained.

We are very fortunate to currently have two plates by Gilbert marks. Please see photo below for a link to the other.

 
Gilbert Leigh Marks (1861-1905) was one of the first silversmiths to consciously renounce industrial manufacture in favour of making by hand.  Although he seems to have had little to do with the Arts and Crafts movement he shared many of its ideals. The importance of his work lies in the outstanding quality of its chasing. In a short career cut short by ill health, he is known to have only produced between only 700 and 800 pieces - most of them in silver. His earlier pieces were almost entirely dedicated to the perfection of chasing floral motifs. 

"The man who buys the stock plate is buying useful articles but not unique ones, whereas he who commissions an original work upon which the craftsman has bestowed his best personal labour is buying a work of art, the money value of which increases with an increase of reputation that may come to the artist". (Gilbert Leigh Marks speaking in an interview with The London Art Journal in 1898).

See  `The Directory of Gold & Silversmiths, Jewellers & Allied Traders, 1838-1914` vol. I, by John Culme pages 312-13 for more information.