Arts & Crafts Sterling Silver Winchester Bushel Bowl F.J. Ross & Sons, London, 1925–1926

An Arts & Crafts sterling silver Winchester Bushel Bowl by F.J. Ross & Sons, London, dated 1925–1926.

The bowl is finely hand-hammered, circular in form, and raised on three tassel-shaped feet, with twin angular handles reflecting the restrained medieval revival aesthetic of the Arts & Crafts movement.

The exterior is richly decorated with a raised Latin inscription in Old English–style lettering:

“Henricus Septimus Dei Gracia Rex Danglae Et Francie”
(Henry the Seventh, by the Grace of God, King of England and France)

Interspersed among the inscription are symbolic relief motifs:

• Tudor rose — dynastic legitimacy and continuity
• Lion rampant — royal authority, strength, and majesty
• Anchor — hope, stability, and safe harbor

Together, these elements reference Tudor England through a 20th-century Arts & Crafts lens.

Historical Context

The Winchester bushel was the historic legal standard of volume for agricultural goods in England. Silver examples were produced as ceremonial and functional replicas, often for guilds, civic bodies, or scholarly collectors rather than everyday use.

This example aligns with documented Arts & Crafts–era revival pieces, where medieval symbolism and hand craftsmanship were intentionally emphasized over industrial production.

Maker: F.J. Ross & Sons

Frederick James Ross was a British silversmith based in Winchester, England, active from the late 19th century through the early 20th century. His firm, F.J. Ross & Sons (active circa 1904–1938), was closely associated with the Arts & Crafts movement, producing silver rooted in medieval forms, symbolism, and hand-worked surfaces.

Ross’s work is recognized for its intellectual historicism rather than ornament for ornament’s sake.

Marks & Hallmarks

• Sterling silver
• London assay mark
• Date letter: 1925–1926
• Maker’s mark: F.J. Ross & Sons

All marks are crisp and consistent with period production.

Specifications

• Material: Sterling silver
• Weight: 9.315 gross troy ounces
• Dimensions:
  • Height: 2 1/2 in
  • Diameter: 5 in

Condition

Fine antique condition.
Light surface scratches inside the bowl and a few to the base, consistent with age and handling.
Retains a clean, even polish with no structural issues.