Gilbert Marks Matchbox Holder

This is a rare piece of silver by one of the most sought after of all English silversmiths. This beautifully decorated hand-made match box holder bears the typical floral chasing of Gilbert Marks - all his pieces are unique but the quality of chasing remains his trademark and easily identifies his work. This match box holder is very competitively priced for a piece of work by this highly sought after silversmith.

This match box bears his dated engraved signature and a clear set of hallmarks with his distinctive "GM" makers mark. The match box holder is in the usual form of four open sides to open the box and to strike the matches on the sandpaper. The condition is excellent and the original patina is retained.
 
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 only between 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.