Feather Caddy Spoon
Artist
Maggie Shepherd
(Stonehaven, Scotland)
Datec. 1981
Object NameSpoon
Mediumsilver, gold and copper
ClassificationsApplied Art
Dimensions7 x 4.9cm
AcquisitionPurchased in 1981.
Copyright© Margaret I Shepherd. D.A., M.Des.R.C.A. Designer Goldsmith (2004)
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDAG001149
About MeThis is a small silver spoon fashioned to represent a duck feather. Copper and gold are used to create a realistic feather effect, combined with oxidising, a technique which dulls the brightness of silver.It is an example of a modern piece of European metalwork that has been profoundly influenced by Japanese metalwork and philosophy, although the influence of Japanese culture on Western art is no new phenomenon. Certainly before Japanese artists took up residence in Europe, the steady flow of arts and crafts exported from the East did much to stimulate artistic production in the West.
There are many contemporary UK metal artists such as Jeff Watt (born 1960) and Mark Powell (born 1959) who have taken a direct approach and deliberately adopted and experimented with Japanese metalworking techniques. Both have used forms of decoration and construction in the production of their jewellery that was formally used in the production of Samurai armour and weaponry.
Work by other makers like Adrian Hope (born 1953), Anna Gordon (born 1971), and Robert Foster (born 1962) imbue the spirit of Japanese art, whether intentionally or not. Hope and Foster pursue the quest for functional everyday objects, which are beautiful with an air of quiet simplicity - an ethos maintained by Japanese metalworkers for centuries. Gordon takes a dual approach with her body of work, as she combines simple linear forms and geometric elements with natural motifs that give depth to her jewellery. Margaret Shepherd on the other hand has been fascinated by the natural world throughout her career. It has influenced much of her work, linking her intrinsically to Japanese philosophies on art and nature.
More About Me
In the shape of a duck feather, this small spoon was fashioned from copper, gold and silver, the silver being oxidised to dull its brightness.
James Cromar Watt
