Although little information exists about London silversmith Charles Stuart Harris, his exquisite sterling silverware and serveware — the ornate and distinctive bowls encircled with chased scrolling leaf decoration, the platters featuring Vitruvian scrollwork, the centerpieces with their leaf-capped and scrolled arms he designed as well as those produced by the family firm C.S. Harris & Sons Ltd. — is a testament to an age of refinement and elegance.
Harris was from a family of silversmiths active in London in the mid-19th century. In 1817, the firm now known as C.S. Harris & Sons Ltd. was founded by John Mark Harris, a spoon maker. His son, John Robert Harris, took over the family company in 1843, listed as a silver spoon and fork manufacturer.
Neoclassical-style sterling-silver goods in Europe gained popularity in the late 18th century — a taste for sterling-silver tableware, as well as tea sets, had taken shape — while in the United States, beginning in the 19th century, preparing the dinner table with sterling-silver flatware had become somewhat of a standard practice.
Around 1852, the business passed to Charles Harris, who was registered as an electroplater and gilder, a maker of spoons and forks as well as a silversmith. At first, under Harris, the family firm continued as a manufacturer of spoons and forks; however, they later expanded into making cutlery and flatware.
By 1881, the company was formally registered under Harris’s name — Charles Stuart Harris — and it earned a reputation for its utilitarian flatware. In 1897, when the business became known as C.S. Harris & Sons Ltd., they were listed as manufacturers and dealers in gold and silverplate. By this time, the company produced additional furnishings and objects such as serveware, candle holders and tea caddies. They also retailed in wire and lace, silver and gold diamond jewelry and watches.
It is said that by 1900, C.S. Harris & Sons Ltd. sent more silver to London’s Assay Office to be hallmarked than any other silversmith company. Shortly after the turn of the 20th century, Harris retired. In 1933, C.S. Harris & Sons Ltd. merged with I. Freeman and Company.
Today, items produced by Harris remain highly coveted by collectors of Victorian and Edwardian sterling silverware and decorative objects.
Find antique Charles Stuart Harris silver serveware, decorative objects and more collectibles on 1stDibs.
Victorian English Sterling Silver Presentation Bowl by Charles Stuart Harris
By Charles Stuart Harris
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver presentation bowl made by Charles Stuart Harris; an addition to our dining silverware collection. This impressive a...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Victorian Antique Silver Bowl
By Mappin & Webb
Located in London, GB
Antique Victorian Silver Bowl of circular form on spreading pedestal foot, the body decorated with lobed fluting, applied with bold acanthus and scroll cartouches, one with a vacant ...
Silver
Antique Victorian 1899 Sterling Silver Presentation Bowl
By Elkington & Co.
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive, large Victorian English sterling silver presentation bowl made by Elkington & Co Ltd; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection. This...
Sterling Silver
Arts & Crafts Style 1906 Edwardian Sterling Silver Presentation Bowl
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Edwardian English sterling silver presentation bowl in the Arts & Crafts style; an addition to our silver presentation collection. This e...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique George VI Sterling Silver Presentation Bowl by Reid & Sons Ltd
By Reid & Sons 1
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, antique George VI English sterling silver presentation bowl made by Reid & Sons Ltd; an addition to our silver presentation collection This exce...
Sterling Silver
$13,420
H 9 in Dm 11 in
Victorian 'Monteith' Sterling Silver Bowl Hallmarked in 1890 with Removable Rim
By Aldwinckle & Slater
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1890 by Aldwinckle & Slater, this striking, Victorian, antique sterling silver bowl, is in the 'Monteith' style, with a removable scalloped rim, lion mask dro...
Sterling Silver
Antique Sterling Silver Presentation Bowl by John Taylor & Co, 1937
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive antique George VI English sterling silver presentation bowl with sporting interest, an addition to our 1930...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Charles Edwards Sterling Silver 1901 Centerpiece Bowl
By Charles Edwards
Located in New York, NY
Charles Edwards, English sterling silver bowl, made in London in 1901, beautifully adorned with floral and geometric motifs. It measures 9 1/2'' in diameter by 5 7/8'' in height, wei...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique Irish Silver bowl Dublin 1834 John Moore
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Antique Irish Silver bowl, Dublin 1834 John Moore. Large two handled circular bombe form with repoussé and embossed foliage decoration on partial stippled background, rich foliage le...
Sterling Silver
Antique Edwardian English Sterling Silver Monteith Bowl
By Daniel & John Wellby
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive antique Edwardian English sterling silver Monteith bowl; an addition to our range of collectable silverware. This magnificent antique Edwardian sterling silver bowl has a large Monteith form onto a spreading foot. The body of this antique Edwardian monteith bowl is ornamented with exceptional panels of flat engraved decoration, incorporating dynamic chinoiserie characters amongst foliate and towering structures; it can be determined that such a frieze of figures relates to a historical event or folklore. Each panel is segmented with concave fluted pales to a matte textured plateau. The decoration to the body incorporates a leaf bordered cartouche to one side, displaying a contemporary bright cut engraved coat of arms, all above the motto 'Vix Ea Nostra Voco' - I scarce call these deeds of our ancestors ours*. These heraldic markings are surmounted with the contemporary bright cut engraved crest of on a mount, a hind lodged in front of a hawthorn-tree, ducally gorged and chained*. This exceptional example of antique silverware is fitted with two cast and applied handles, each fashioned in the form of lion's masks grasping a hallmarked drop-ring handle. The detachable shaped rim of this antique Monteith bowl...
Silver
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver "Louvre" Pedestal Bowl
By Georg Jensen
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Done by noted silversmith Georg Jensen, this early example of his iconic "Louvre" bowl bears his early markings and dates to 1915-1925. The "Louvre" bowl was first designed and prese...
Sterling Silver
Antique Gorham Sterling Silver Bowl with Ornate Chased Floral Decoration
By Gorham
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique bowl was made by the renowed Gorham Company of the United States and dates to approximately 1900 and done in a Victorian style. The bowl is composed of sterling silver a...
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century English Sterling Silver Drinking Cup
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Double handle sterling silver English cup, circa 1813. Unknown maker mark.
Sterling Silver
Antique Sterling Silver Curled Handle & Ornately Engraved Centerpiece Bowl
By Mount Vernon 1
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This ornately engraved sterling silver centerpiece was made by the Mount Vernon Co. of the United States in approximately 1915 in a Neoclassical Revival style. This large and shallow...
Sterling Silver
Birks Pierced Sterling Silver Basket
By Henry Birks & Son
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Birks pierced sterling silver basket.
Sterling Silver
Antique Silver Plated Converted Meat Dome Ice Trough, Wine Cooler or Centerpiece
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This extremely large and substantial ice trough or centerpiece is a marriage of an inverted meat dome with a silver plated stand. The meat dome has no maker...
Silver Plate
