Author: Richard Webb

Brown trout swimming amongst small 18ct gold fry. Silver, silver gilt and enamel, with 18ct & 22ct gold.

Enamelled with a summer theme, incorporating a centre rose enamelled in the design of a honeycomb with bees. The centre ‘Queen Bee’ can be removed to take a candle. Silver, silver gilt, 18ct and 22ct gold, and enamel.

2008 – A collaborative piece with silversmith Chris Lawrence. Chris’ dish has the feel of ripples of water, his sensitive hammering making the silver dance and play, creating almost impossible forms from a single sheet of silver. Fred continued with the aquatic theme and, inspired by reeds and reed warblers, has created a three sided tilting jug, distinctively enamelled in glowing olives and golds. The jug hides a surprise reed warbler’s nest replete with cuckoo egg. Silver, silver gilt, 18ct gold, and enamel with 22ct gold cloissons.

As a guide, the dish is about 600mm in diameter, and the jug about 300mm high.

A fabricated form enamelled with 3 mermaids gathering salt from the foaming sea. A fourth mermaid in the shape of a spoon offers the salt in her cupped hands. Silver, silver gilt, 18ct and 22ct gold, and enamel.

Applied silver wires give the illusion of rushing water, with salmon making their way upstream. Silver, silver gilt and enamel with 22ct gold cloissons. Height c11.5cm.

Water jug & beakers. Silver, silver gilt, 18 carat and 22 carat gold, and enamel. The enamelled sections comprise applied fine silver sheet which is soldered to the piece before being enamelled. Oxidation of the silver brings out the sculptural quality and delicate hues of this set. The jug holds about 1 litre of water and stands 240 mm high.

The Candelabra are fabricated in silver and have a tapered lozenge form which is recessed and enamelled to give four panels. As the form rises, the lozenge shape turns into two scrolls, which again, are part enamelled, and represent trees. Between the two scrolls there is a dragon on the left hand candelabra and a sea serpent on the right; they each hold an arm between their wings which terminate in two candleholders with enamelled drip pans. Above the arms, the dragon protects a gilded apple and the sea serpent protects a gilded shell. They represent sunset and sunrise, and the ‘dialogue’ between these two monsters says something about the night that the candles they hold light up. Height approx. 370mm.

Silver, silver gilt and enamel with 22 carat gold cloissons, and moonstones set in 22 carat gold. Height 150mm.

A mirrored pair, where applied silver wires ripple like water drawing you upstream with the trout. Silver, silver gilt, 18ct gold, and enamel with 22ct gold cloissons.

Applied fine silver sheet is applied to the beaker, together with 22ct gold wire, and then enamelled. Silver, silver gilt, 22ct gold, and enamel, and set with aquamarines. Damselflies, marsh marigolds, and aquamarines give this water tumbler and air of opulence.