An Arts and Crafts silver presentation trowel by Nelson Ethelred Dawson (1859-1941), the main...

An Arts and Crafts silver presentation trowel by Nelson Ethelred Dawson (1859-1941), the main surface with a central purple enamel plaque overpainted with inscription, below a plume of feathers flanked by a pierced foliate border to the tapered and concaved facetted wooden handle and pomegranate finial. Hallmarked Nelson Dawson, London 1901. Maximum length measuring 9 inches (23 cm).

'With this trowel the Hon: Sir Walter F. Hutchinson. G.C.M.G Governor laid this foundation stone for the statue of His Majesty King Edward VII. Capetown. 26. June. 1902'

Nelson Ethelred Dawson (1859-1941), was an English artist and member of the Arts and Crafts movement,  his work has been exhibited at the Royal Academy amongst others.

In the 1890’s Dawson married Edith Brearey Robinson, herself a painter, and together became a highly successful partnership in the Arts & Crafts movement.  With Dawson now focusing on metalwork and Edith undertaking enamelling, they produced several important pieces including the trowel and mallet used by Queen Victoria at her last public appearance when laying the foundation stone for the V&A Museum in 1899.

Probably Dawson’s most lasting legacy has been in his role as the founder of The Artificers’ Guild in 1901. Although the company passed into other hands shortly after its formation, Dawson’s influence on the style of the works produced ensured the Guild’s popularity well into the 1930’s.