GERALD BENNEY: a large silver-gilt and enamel box, London, 1972

Lot 109AR. GERALD BENNEY: a large silver-gilt and enamel box, London, 1972; height 6.7cm, length 20.8cm, weight total 50.5oz. Estimate £ 10,000 - 15,000 (€ 11,000 - 16,000). © Bonhams.

Rectangular form with bark-effect texturing on the sides, the underside with radiating texturing, the cover decorated with dark blue and white enamel, the blue enamel over a textured ground resembling moiré silk, with a black leather-lined interior. 

GERALD BENNEY CBE RDI (1930-2008)

Gerald Benney was one of the most outstanding goldsmiths of the 20th century. With works being continuously produced for over fifty years, from private commissions to mass production. Born in Hull, Yorkshire, in 1930, Benney received many commissions from the Royal Family and was the first craftsman to hold four Royal Warrants simultaneously: from HM The Queen, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales.

Gerald Benney decided that his home at Beenham House in Berkshire was the place to develop the use of enamels. The first steps were to travel to Zurich to find an enameller who worked for Burch Korrodi. By chance he came across the Norwegian Berger Bergensen who had worked for the House of Bolin as well as Burch. Bergensen was persuaded to come to Beenham House and taught the Benney workforce all he knew about enamelling. With Alan Evans and Robert Winter becoming notable master enamellers for Benney.
It took several years to master the craft. He refined and mastered this art enamelling larger surface areas than Fabergé.