Ellis Finch
Head of Knightsbridge Silver Department
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A Collection of Enamelled Silver by John Ferguson Gow FBDA (1885 - 1970)
LOT 792 - 800
LOT 792 - 800
Lot 792
A rare Arts and Crafts style silver and enamel table lamp mark of John Ferguson Gow, London 1959
Amended
18 – 19 April 2023, 10:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge£4,000 - £6,000
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A rare Arts and Crafts style silver and enamel table lamp
mark of John Ferguson Gow, London 1959
The hand crafted spiralling column decorated with a trailing band of cloisonné enamelled stylised flower heads and alternating leaves among beads enamelled in blues and greens, the knopped column with applied rope-twist bands, the spreading domed base finely enamelled with stylised floral motifs and trailing foliage between four large flower heads, further enamelled in blues and greens over a light stippled ground, the broad drip pan and rim of the base with a raised bead border, each boss with a rope-twist surround, on a shallow wood base, height 36cm.
The hand crafted spiralling column decorated with a trailing band of cloisonné enamelled stylised flower heads and alternating leaves among beads enamelled in blues and greens, the knopped column with applied rope-twist bands, the spreading domed base finely enamelled with stylised floral motifs and trailing foliage between four large flower heads, further enamelled in blues and greens over a light stippled ground, the broad drip pan and rim of the base with a raised bead border, each boss with a rope-twist surround, on a shallow wood base, height 36cm.
Footnotes
John Ferguson Gow FBDA (1885-1970) was born on 28th December 1885 in Lewisham Kent, the son of Alexander Gow FBDA and Mary Budgen. Gow had a successful career as a Harley Street dental surgeon and was a Fellow of the British Dental Association, much like his Father before him and his son after him. He married Mabel Emily Moss on 6th August 1916 in Lewisham and had two children; Joyce M. Gow (later Loysen) who was born in 1920 and soon after John Alexander Gow, born in 1922. Gow's career as a dentist went from strength to strength, and by 1920 he was registered at the prestigious address of 127 Harley Street and by 1922, 15 Upper Wimpole Street, also having a family home called 'Heathfield', in Bishops Avenue, N2. However, in addition to his formal career, his true passion lay in his alternative vocation as a silversmith and enameller – a creative path he developed in his spare time. The drill and hammer skills of a dental surgeon transferrable to those of a silversmith.
Most of John Ferguson Gow's work is therefore very recognisable, having a distinctive Arts and Crafts style. The majority of his pieces utilise a floral roundel motif, cloisonné enamelled in tones of blue and green, with the occasional use of other colours. When looking closely at his work, it is evident that he only had the use of a limited selection of mandrels to make the wire shapes (possibly what he could find in the kitchen or around the house), as the same wire patterns appear in most of his designs. The silver itself has a distinctively fine textured appearance, evidence of being lovingly worked on by hand. According to his granddaughter, Gow worked on all of his silver pieces at home, 'in the corner of the drawing room 'fiddling with bits of wire', or in the kitchen with a Bunsen burner on the kitchen table, while my grandmother entertained her friends to tea'.
Much of John Ferguson Gow's silverwork was carried out during the Second World War, and it was not until 30th May 1941 that he registered his hallmark at the London Assay Office. As such, his work prior to that date is unmarked, although easily recognisable in both style and form. He really seemed to hit his stride in terms of silver output upon his retirement, which appears to be around the time he registered his hallmark. At this point, he supplied Harrods with various silver and enamelled pendants, brooches and ashtrays. However, he also worked on key ceremonial pieces, which he frequently 'gifted' to organisations anonymously. This has made tracking down his work fairly difficult, as often his ceremonial craftmanship has not been officially cited as by him, making it apparent that he was a modest man who did not want any fanfare.
For example, as per the official photo in the British Dental Journal supplement dated October 2nd, 1951, a ceremonial mace made by John Ferguson Gow was officially donated and presented to the British Dental Association by his son Flight Lieutenant John Alexander Gow (an orthodontist at Royal Victoria Hospital), in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen. Gow does not appear to have presented any of his ceremonial silver in person, staying in the background and allowing his son to act as his representative. Without an art school training, Gow had a unique design and creative process, visibly apparent with this unique mace; the silver head was hexagonal in form with stylistic enamelling, the main handle of which was made from a narwhal tusk. The mace was often used in British Dental Association ceremonies, as can be seen in the BDA Newsletter of June 16th 1959, when the Association's mace bearer was photographed in Torquay at an official BDA ceremony. The whereabouts of this mace is now unknown. The remains of the tusk were used by Gow to create a unique lamp, which can be seen on offer at Bonhams today.
Another example of John Ferguson Gow's ceremonial plate can be seen at St Clement Danes Church in the Strand, the famous Sir Christopher Wren masterpiece which had been destroyed by bombing in 1941. After being rebuilt, it was officially recognised as the Central Church dedicated to the Royal Air Force. It acts as a perpetual shrine to the 150,000 RAF men and women who had died in both World Wars, and latterly whilst on active service; all named in their Books of Remembrance. On October 19th, 1958, the church was officially reconsecrated and opened by Her Majesty the Queen and members of the Royal Family. The high altar cross, candlesticks and alms dish were all made by John Ferguson Gow, yet again were presented and donated by Flight Lieutenant John Alexander Gow anonymously on behalf of his Father – their colours reflecting the distinctive blue of the RAF. Other examples of Gow's church plate can be found at Hythe Parish Church, as cited in the 'Canterbury Diocesan Notes – July 1959', when it was noted that a beautiful silver and enamelled alms dish by Gow had been donated to the church in April that year. There are also large alms dishes donated to St James's Piccadilly, St Albans Abbey and also at St Bartholomew-the-Great (the church at Barts Hospital), given in memory of his brother Dr Alexander Gow.
The alms dish donated to St James's Piccadilly is simply inscribed 'Glory to God in the Highest' and was made in 1941, at a point in British history which Churchill described as 'our darkest hour'. It was at a time when St James's itself, and much else that was held dear, was in real and imminent danger of destruction under the onslaught of the Blitz. This remarkable dish is a testament to Gow's skill and can be viewed as equal in mastery to pieces by his contemporaries, such as Leslie Durbin, Gerald Benney and Richard Fox. At 81 years of age, Gow was still creating his unique silver and enamel work, donating a piece of silver plate to the B.D.A. to gift to the American Dental Association, on the opening of their new headquarters in Chicago (as reported in the Belfast Telegraph, 24th February, 1966). John Ferguson Gow did not appear to benefit financially from his work, he just seemed to garner a pure enjoyment from his chosen craft, apparent in work which appears joyous, imbibed with passion and a unique creativity.
Literature
Belfast Telegraph, 24th February, 1966
British Dental Journal supplement, October 2nd, 1951
Canterbury Diocesan Notes – July, 1959
The Illustrated London News, 'The reconsecration of St Clement Danes', Saturday 25th October, 1958, accessed via The British Newspaper Archive
www.metalmagique.com accessed on 16th March 2023
Tim Schroder, 'Silver and the Church: An Exhibition Held at Goldsmiths' Hall to Mark the 1400th Anniversary of the Diocese of London', (London: The Silver Society, 2004)
The Sphere, 'Inside the restored St Clement Danes', Saturday 18th October, 1958, accessed via The British Newspaper Archive
Saleroom notices
Biographical amendments - please note John Ferguson Gow had three children, the third being Helen Mabel Gow (later Langrish). Secondly, the Barts ceremonial plate is in Barts museum rather than the church.