Arts and Crafts Newlyn Copper Tray Chased Gurnard Fish and Kelp Decoration 1900

A Newlyn copper ware antique Arts and Crafts rectangular shaped hand crafted copper tray with a central design with fish, which look like stylised Red Gurnard, and kelp like seaweed chased decoration.

This very decorative and collectable piece has a hammered or peened and repousse finish to the rim, giving an artisan feel to the piece, which was the whole ethos of the arts and crafts / art nouveau period. There is no maker's mark as is often the case with hand crafted items such as this but, it is very similar in manufacturing and decorative style, particularly the marine theme, to pieces produced by the various artists working in the Arts and Crafts tradition in the Cornish fishing village of Newlyn in the late 19th century.

The Newlyn school, or Newlyn Industrial Class, was set up in 1890 by John Drew Mackenzie to help Cornish Fishermen supplement their income and it operated in a similar manner to the earlier Keswick School of Industrial Arts that had been set up by Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley. Newlyn school copper is now highly collectable, it dates to circa 1900.

The tray is 17 1/2 inches long, 11 3/4 inches wide and the raised rim is 1/2 inch high. It weighs 1398 grammes unpacked. It is in good antique condition, it has a some damage to three corners, Please see the images. 

This is a great decorative and useful item of antique Newlyn, marine themed, arts and crafts copper metalware to add to any collection.

Free UK with this item when purchased at the listed price, international postage at cost.