BY W.A.S. BENSON & CO., CIRCA 1900

Details

A COPPER AND BRASS ADJUSTABLE FIRESCREEN AND A FENDER
BY W.A.S. BENSON & CO., CIRCA 1900
The firescreen, model no. 679, with eight 'petals' about a central boss, on a weighted base and with ring to the top of the shaft, the fender of curved outline and formed of lotus leaves and vine tendrils
The firescreen: 29 ¼ in. (74 cm.) high; 20 5/8 in. (52.5 cm.) wide
The fender: 26 ¼ in. (67 cm.) wide

Provenance

Acquired from Paul Reeves, 1998 & 1994 respectively.

Literature

I. Hamerton ed., W.A.S. Benson: Arts and Crafts Luminary and Pioneer of Modern Design, Woodbridge, 2005, pp. 95-6 & 99, pls. 73 & 77.
M. Hamnett, ‘The Albert Dawson Collection: a Handley-Read Legacy’, The Journal of the Decorative Arts Society 1850 - the Present, 2016, vol. 40, p. 107, fig. 18 (fender).

Special notice

Specified lots (sold and unsold) marked with a filled square ( ¦ ) not collected from Christie’s, 8 King Street, London SW1Y 6QT by 5.00pm on the day of the sale will, at our option, be removed to Crozier Park Royal (details below). Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite.If the lot is transferred to Crozier Park Royal, it will be available for collection from 12.00pm on the second business day following the sale.Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Crozier Park Royal. All collections from Crozier Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only.Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com.If the lot remains at Christie’s, 8 King Street, it will be available for collection on any working day (not weekends) from 9.00am to 5.00pm

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Adrian Hume-Sayer Director, Specialist

Lot Essay

A fire screen of apparently identical design is held in the collection of The Victoria & Albert Museum, London; they record 'This was one of Benson's earliest registered designs. He had a facility for inventing gadgets: his vaned copper screen is reminiscent of the copper shade he evolved for some of his lamps (see lot 131) - an example of these, installed by Philip Webb at Standen, near East Grinstead, is now in the possession of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The pattern is shown in his catalogue of 1899/1900, given the production number 679 (pl.29) and costing four guineas' (M.37-1972). This model is illustrated in the W.A.S. Benson & Co. Catalogue 1899/1900, no. 679.

More from An Aesthetic Odyssey: The Peter Rose and Albert Gallichan Collection

View All