Edwardian wicker and sterling silver bottle, London 1903, Hukin & Heath

A rare early Edwardian wicker and sterling silver bottle, with marks by London 1903, Hukin & Heath. John Thomas Heath & John Hartshorne Middleton were active under this name from 1886-1909. By the late Victorian period they had established showrooms at 19 Charterhouse Street, Holborn (J.Culme, 'The Directory of Gold & Silversmiths, Jewellers and Allied Traders 1838-1914', Woodbridge 1987, 1, 243). 

They were silver makers of note, having collaborated with Christopher Dresser which was noted by 'The Art Journal', 1879, 222: the showrooms were described as 'redolent of art', while the art works were produced without increasing the cost, exhibiting 'grace combined with the useful, simplicity and purity of form with readiness of application to the purposes to which they are to be applied'. They registered designs by Dresser from 1878 until at least 1881 and the models were produced into the early 1900s- these design books were destroyed before the firm closed. Hukin & Heath also had silver wares executed to Dresser designs which were hallmarked in London.

An elegant and rare example of their work, this piece is for decorative purposes rather than functional; the lock is in good working order but the cork is firmly stuck, and we would not recommend using antique cork bottles for food and drink in general. 

Large silver and wicker flasks of this condition by this maker are rare to the Australian market. A highly collectable and desirable piece.

Price marked at $600 AUD.

Measurements: 26cm high, 8 by 8cm base measurements

Good antique condition; hallmarks are crisp and legible. Some minor losses to wicker as pictured, and cork as aforementioned. Excellent for display purposes.

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