Jewellery, Watches, Silver and Objects of Vertu

A Britannia silver and enamel ‘Aquarius’ goblet by Louis Osman, 1976, the silver beaker of gently ovoid form, on a cylindrical base, to an undulating skirt foot, engraved all over with a rippling water pattern and with raised collet set seed pearl ‘bubbles’, the cylindrical base applied with a double wave motif highlighted with bright blue enamel, hallmarked for Britannia silver, London 1976, with maker’s mark ‘LO’, height 9cm. £2,000-£3,000



Please note ARR will apply to this lot (Artist’s Resale Rights).

This lot is to be sold as part of a special collection, Louis Osman: The Jenkins Family Collection.

View
Collection

This cup was commissioned by Mr and Mrs Jenkins for their son Toby, on the occasion of his 21st birthday.
The enamelling to the cup was executed by Dilys Osman, Louis’ wife. In a letter to Mrs Jenkins, dated 3 November 1976, Louis says: “Toby’s cup is finished […] and enamelled –– very blue & watery & Aquarian. I have decided that I would like to have the whole outside surface engraved with wave’y watery ‘Aquarian’ lines too by an artist/engraver but didn’t want to exceed the [quotation] without consulting you. Of course if you don’t want the additional cost I fully understand (if you do I would of course be pleased) and if you don’t I would be quite happy to pay the Engraver myself”. (3 November 1976)

Exhibited:
In Celebration of Gold and Silver: An exhibition of exquisite jewellery and magnificent silver made during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, a Goldsmiths’ Company exhibition at Goldsmiths’ Hall, May - July 2002, exhibition catalogue no. 150.
Explosion, Talent today: the 650th birthday of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, December 1977, exhibition catalogue no. 120 (illustrated).

Copies of these catalogues and of J. Moore’s biography accompany this lot together with further related correspondence.

Some chipping and loss to the blue enamel. Diameter at lip, 58mm.
Weight 176.6gm.

This lot is accompanied by:
A hand written letter from Louis Osman to Mrs Jenkins explaining that the design is to include engraved decoration, dated 3 November 1976.
A copy of a hand written valuation, including the goblet, dated 26 April 1978.
Photocopies of paperwork relating to the two exhibitions.