Oliver Baker for Liberty & Co Pewter Arts & Crafts Bowl

A circular pewter bowl designed by Oliver Baker (1895 – 1939).  Baker was an accomplished creative talent – a painter, etcher, designer, silversmith and antiquarian.  He was born in Birmingham and designed for Liberty & Co with his contemporary Archibold Knox, as well as exhibiting at the Royal Academy. 

The design aesthetic of the bowl is typical of the Arts & Crafts style, featuring a gently rounded body, raised on three angular trident supports with a hand-hammered finish.  With a classic understated form and careful detailing, it is typical of the Celtic Revival style associated with Liberty in this period.  The antique pewter has acquired a soft and attractive aged patina adding to its authentic antique character.

History ~
Approx 1905, England.

The bowl is a known design within the "Tudric" range (model number 01128) which Liberty launched between 1901 and 1903. It was developed as a more affordable, mass produced but hand finished range in the famous "Liberty Style” - which bridged the Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau movements.  The Tudric range was produced by W H Haseler of Birmingham from 1899 until the 1930s.  They worked in partnership with Liberty to develop a metal alloy that replicated ‘the best of old English pewter’ – it was a high-quality, lead-free pewter alloy that had a higher silver content than other pewter at the time, giving it a distinctive brighter appearance.  The underside of the bowl bears the Liberty pewter mark "Made by Liberty & Co" with the model number.  There is no designer’s name as Liberty did not allow this, preferring to promote its own brand rather than any one individual artist. 

Condition ~
Good antique condition, light wear to the surface and patina throughout. 

Dimensions ~
H 10.5 l Diameter of rim 19 cm