Arts & Crafts style hammered silver bowl

This stylish and substantial silver pedestal bowl is in the Arts & Crafts style and is made by renowned Scottish silversmiths, Hamilton & Inches in Edinburgh. Named after the architect who designed the thistle chapel within St Giles Cathedral, the Lorimer collection was inspired by ancient Scottish church plate.

Key to the design is the pierced sphere or knop which features on each item and links the collection together. The pivotal item in this set is the centrepiece bowl which shows off the pierced knop's stylised Fleur de Lys to its full effect. It is hand-hammered and has a cast band of decoration around the foot, typical of the Arts & Crafts movement.

The movement emerged from a disenchantment with the impersonal, mechanised direction of society in the 19th century and advocated a return to a simpler, more fulfilling way of living. The movement was admired for its use of high quality materials and for its emphasis on utility in design.