Roland Arkell is quite right in suggesting there may be a reference to this piece in Tuke’s diary of 1899-1905.
An extract from the entry for Wednesday December 6, 1905 reads: To town, saw the Vermeer of Delft at Sully’s. To the National Gallery and Dowdeswells and to Omar Ramsden and Alwyn Carr’s and saw their exhibition of metal work – they are going to make me a silver cup and a pin.
The provenance of this item is proven by the entry; however, where it has been most of its life is a mystery. Gorringe’s stated only that it came from a house clearance. What luck!
As you have seen, Tuke also ordered a ‘pin’ from Ramsden & Carr, but this has, as yet, not come to light. As a collector of Tuke, I will continue to search and if any of your readership has any ideas this would be most helpful.
Mike Baker
