Search

A concrete cantilevered building against blue sky and green landscaping

A large green wall with oil paintings in gold frames above a tiled floor

A museum interior space with paintings and concrete walls and stairs

A concrete-walled lobby with windows, a tiled floor, and a circular desk

The top of a concrete spiral staircase with a wooden railing

A tall tree is the focal point of a garden in between two concrete buildings

About arrow_back

Admission for everyone is always free! Check here for current hours and more.

A concrete cantilevered building against blue sky and green landscaping

Collections arrow_back

The Johnson Museum holds more than 40,000 works in its collection from around the world.

A large green wall with oil paintings in gold frames above a tiled floor

Exhibitions arrow_back

Check out what’s on view this season at the Museum and look back through our history.

A museum interior space with paintings and concrete walls and stairs

Events arrow_back

Free events for everyone, plus special programs for students, families, and more!

A concrete-walled lobby with windows, a tiled floor, and a circular desk

Learn arrow_back

The Johnson Museum actively contributes to the intellectual life of our campus and community.

The top of a concrete spiral staircase with a wooden railing

Support arrow_back

Help the Johnson Museum continue its legacy by making a gift today.

A tall tree is the focal point of a garden in between two concrete buildings

Charles Robert Ashbee

(British, 1863–1942)

Dish or porringer with green glass liner

View All Works

Object Details

Artist

Charles Robert Ashbee

Date

1903

Medium

Silver and glass

Dimensions

1 3/4 × 7 inches (4.4 × 17.8 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Isabel and William Berley, Classes of 1947 and 1945

Object
Number

99.078.099

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONCharles Robert Ashbee designed this small round dish, or porringer. It is made of s(…)

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONCharles Robert Ashbee designed this small round dish, or porringer. It is made of silver with a green glass liner and features a delicate handle that curves dramatically outward from the lip and back down to the base. Notice the oval shaped green stone set into the handle.WHERE WAS IT MADE?The dish was made by the Guild of Handicraft in London, England.WHO WAS THE ARTIST?Charles Robert Ashbee (1863-1942) was a designer and architect from England and a central figure of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Inspired by John Ruskin and William Morris, Ashbee established the Guild and School of Handicraft in London in 1888. The Guild created some of the finest English Art Nouveau furniture, silver and other handicrafts.HOW WAS IT MADE?This dish was made from sheets of silver (or silver plate) and hand-raised, or shaped, by gradually hammering the metal to achieve the desired form. The surface was finished with a technique called planishing, which leaves a subtle texture of many visible dents. Ashbee chose to have the dishes planished, rather than smoothed and polished on a lathe, because he liked the hand-made look derived from planishing, and the way that it drew attention to the material itself. Planishing is done by gently hammering the surface with a round-faced hammer. The dish was then lined with green glass.WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE THIS?This type of dish was produced by the Guild in three styles, including a double-handled style and another resting on a footed-base. This version of the dish includes a green cabochon gemstone set in the curving wire handle.The style and fabrication of the piece is in keeping with the Arts and Crafts movement. The Arts and Crafts movement was inspired by the mid-19th century British philosopher and critic John Ruskin. Ruskin criticized the effects of industrialization on art and the creative process and instead advocated the reorganization of artists into medieval-style guilds. The aim of the guilds was to ensure the highest standards of design and to provide an equally high standard of living for the artists they employed.To see other objects by Charles Ashbee in the Johnson Museum’s collection, search for object numbers 99.078.100, 99.078.101 a,b, and 99.078.112 in the keyword search box.

Discover More

Bottle

Korean

William Beaumont / 13th International Physiological Congress

Joseph Maxwell Miller, Medallic Art Co.

Augustus Saint-Gaudens Plaquette

Warner Williams, Medallic Art Co.

Create an account

Please take a moment to fill your information to create your account.

Reset Password

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive mail with link to set new password.

Save Artwork

Save the artwork in any of your exhibitions or create a new one.

You have not made any exhibitions.

Create New Exhibition

Create New Exhibition