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Novelty desk ornaments

Object | Part of History collection

item details

NameNovelty desk ornaments
ProductionFrank Hyams; silversmith; 1905; London
Classificationornaments, containers, inkstands
Materialssterling silver, pounamu, nephrite, gold, mold-blown glass, wood
Materials SummarySterling silver, gold, nephrite, glass and wood.
DimensionsOverall: 145mm (width), 104mm (height), 95mm (depth)
Registration NumberGH024448
Credit linePurchased 2015 with Charles Disney Art Trust funds

Overview

These Edwardian silver and pounamu novelty desk ornaments were made in the London workshop of Frank Hyams, a silver smith who also specialised in greenstone, and who operated in both New Zealand and London. 

One ornament holds two bottle ink stands with removable glass and gold containers. The other is simply a container.

Both ornaments bear the inscription 'Frank Hyams of 128 New Bond Street W', along with a range of marks.

The ornaments take the form of oval wicker baskets, each of which contains a smiling and weeping baby with an elongated carved nephrite head.


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