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Keith Murray for Mappin & Webb Art Deco silver plated cruet

This superb cruet was designed by Keith Murray for Mappin & Webb during the Art Deco period. It comprises a round try on three bun feet with raised rim. The outer edge of the rim has been incised with 4 circles which are repeated on the salt pepper & mustard pots all of which have raised circular feet with 4 incised rings. The salt and the mustard pot have their blue glass liners and each has a spoon with a gilded bowl. All pieces except the spoons are stamped " Triple Deposit Mappin & Webb Prince's Plate London & Sheffield" with a stylised triskelion type mark. The salt, pepper & mustard pot are stamped "W27704" the salt & mustard pot have a "J" in a shield shaped cartouche and the pepper has a "K" in a shield shaped cartouche. The tray is stamped W28357 and has an "M" in a shield shaped cartouche. The two spoons are stamped "Mappin & Webb" and have a "J" in a shield shaped cartouche and "PP" (presumably for Prince's Plate) in an oval cartouche.

Approximate dimensions:
Weight of cruet: 5.2ozs - 432gms
Diameter of tray: 5.59ins - 14.2cms
Height of pepper: 3.31ins - 8.4cms
Height of mustard pot: 2.36ins - 6cms
Diameter of mustard pot: 3.39ins - 8.6cms
Height of salt: 1.61ins - 4.1cms
Diameter of salt: 2.32ins - 5.9cms

Keith Day Pearce Murray was born in New Zealand but came to England when he was 14. He qualified as an architect but turned his hand to illustrating before becoming a full time designer. He worked on a freelance basis for the glass makers Steven & Williams and then for Wedgwood pottery and his designs in metal were created for Mappin & Webb. In 1936 he was appointed architect in charge of designing Wedgwood's new factory in Burlaston and he returned to architecture after the war.