A coffee pot made by the celebrated Dunblane silversmith Graham Stewart has been presented to Stirling’s Smith Museum and Art Gallery.
The Friends of the Smith, who have disbanded after 50 years, last week donated it to the Dumbarton Road museum and art gallery.
The presentation was made by Scottish silver expert Gordon Foster who is known for his appearances on the Antiques Roadshow.
Gordon had sourced the coffee pot, made in 1994, which is one of the few available examples of the late artist-craftsman’s work.
Graham died in October 2020 aged 65. His work can been found in royal, public and private collections nationally and internationally.
Commissions included a bowl for the late Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee and his ‘Three Honours’ sculpture, which takes pride of place in the foyer of the Scottish Parliament building.
A Friends of the Smith spokesperson said: “The piece chosen for the Smith is an outstanding example of Graham Stewart’s output: a superb hand-hammered silver and rosewood coffee pot, with simple but powerful lines, a unique piece that Graham had kept for himself in his studio to demonstrate his workmanship.
“It is a prime example of his ability to bring line, shape, form, and proportion together and make them ‘sing’, and the Friends are thrilled that his widow agreed to make it available for the museum, along with original sketches.
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“Dating from 1994, it bears not only its actual silver hallmarks (denoting the maker, the quality of the silver, the town where it was registered, and the date of registration) but also the trademarks that Graham was renowned for: superb craftsmanship in the Arts and Crafts tradition, exquisite detail, simple elegant proportions, and a powerful visual impact; traits that made his work resonate with collectors of contemporary silver.”
In a tribute to Graham Stewart, Gordon stated: “[His] place is assured as one of the most talented contemporary silversmiths of his generation. He was a great supporter of the Smith and the Friends of the Smith over the years and he would be immensely proud to know that this coffee pot will be joining the collection at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum, his local museum.”
Gordon thanked chairman of the Friends Moira Lawson and her committee for their prescience in selecting such a splendid and fitting piece for the special presentation.
The sentiment was echoed by the Stirling Smith director Caroline Mathers who accepted the coffee pot on behalf of the Trustees of the Smith and expressed her delight that the Smith’s collection will now include this outstanding contemporary work, of local and national importance.
It is hoped a special case can be made to display the coffee pot at the museum until it takes its place in the museum’s holdings alongside other significant pieces of the collection.
