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
19th Century Signed Tiffany Vine Pattern Sterling Silver Bowl
By Charles L. Tiffany
Located in Savannah, GA
This delightful vine pattern sterling silver bowl by Tiffany features a daisy motif around the top side rim, and is monogrammed Margaret Foster Smith 1893. The piece is marked on the...
Sterling Silver
La Pierre Sterling Silver Compote
Located in East Hampton, NY
La Pierre sterling silver pierced compote.
Sterling Silver
Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver 1950 Bowl in Mid-Century Modern Style
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Tiffany & Co. sterling silver bowl in pattern number 23617 from the early 1950s and in Mid-Century Modern, geometrically beautiful style and design. It measures 7 3/4'' in diameter b...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Swing Handle Sugar Bowl
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in valatie, NY
Tiffany & Co. sterling silver swing handle sugar bowl. The bowl's hallmarks date it to 1907-1947 when John C. MooreII was the chairman. The bowl is done in a simple, Classic form...
Sterling Silver
Tiffany Sterling Silver Bowl in Classic Clover Pattern
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Clover sterling silver bowl. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Tapering sides and turned-down rim with bunched blossoms. A beautiful piece in this gilded age high-low pattern that c...
Sterling Silver
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Hand Hammered Mint Dish Bowl 575D
By Georg Jensen
Located in New York, NY
Georg Jensen sterling silver hand hammered mint dish bowl in pattern 575D, measuring 6 1/3” in diameter by 2 ¼” in height and weighing 7.2 ozt. Bearing hallmarks as shown. Georg J...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Sterling Hammered Bowl
By The Merrill Shops
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This bowl was made at the height of the Arts & Crafts movement, beginning of the 20th century. It has a course, hand-hammered texture that reflects the craftsmanship of the silversmith. The Arts & Crafts movement stood for traditional craftsmanship using simple forms, and often used medieval, romantic, or folk styles of decoration. It advocated human craftsmanship rather than machine. The hammered effect isn’t perfect, reflecting the human workmanship and not that of a machine. This bowl also has a hand engraved 25 anniversary...
Sterling Silver
Art Deco Celtic Design Sterling Silver Serving Bowl
By R. Wallace & Sons Co.
Located in New York, NY
Art Deco, Celtic design, sterling silver serving bowl, R. Wallace & Son, Wallingford, Ct., circa 1930s. Measures: 10" x 10" x 2 1/4" high; 14.0 troy ...
Sterling Silver
Antique English Sterling Silver George II Basket
Located in London, GB
A George II sterling silver bread basket, London 1750 by Samuel Herbert & Co Of shaped oval form in the Rococo style, all raised upon a cast scallop shell and C scroll foot. The rim...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Dish/ Bowl in Rope Pattern #290 from 1920s
By Georg Jensen
Located in New York, NY
Georg Jensen, sterling silver, hand hammered dish or bowl, made between 1925 and 1932, in Rope pattern number 290. It measures 5'' in diameter by 1 3/4'' in height and bears early ha...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver Sauceboat, circa 1920
Located in New York, NY
Engraved on base 'Reproduction sauce boat made in London by Wm. Bateman, 1820-1821, Sterling'.
Sterling Silver
Eric Löfman Hand Hammered Sterling Silver Bowl MGAB, Uppsala 1986 Stamped
By Eric Löfman
Located in Paris, IDF
Eric Löfman (Sweden, 1925-1994) A Swedish silver bowl, maker's mark of Eric Löfman, MGAB, Uppsala 1986. Hammered surface, round base. Height 8.5-9.5 cm, ...
Sterling Silver
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H 1.58 in Dm 9.26 in
Antique Britannia Standard Silver Strawberry Dish - London 1917 C. S. Harris
By Charles Stuart Harris
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1917 by Charles Stuart Harris, this striking, Antique Britannia Standard Silver Strawberry Dish, has a gilt interior, and lobed sides. The strawberry dish mea...
Britannia Standard Silver
Antique Edwardian Monteith Style Sterling Silver Presentation Bowl
By Charles Stuart Harris
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive, antique Edwardian English sterling silver Monteith style presentation bowl; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection. This magnifice...
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver Bon Bon Dishes, Antique Victorian, '1886'
By Charles Stuart Harris
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive pair of antique Victorian English sterling silver bon bon dishes made by Charles Stuart Harris; part of our ornamental silverware collection These exceptional antique Victorian English bon bon dishes in sterling silver have an oval form onto an oval spreading foot. The body of these sterling silver dishes are embellished with chased decorated branches accented with floral and perched bird designs. The spreading foot of each piece is ornamented with a continuation of foliate and fruiting decoration. The shaped, undulating rims of these antique silver dishes...
Silver, Sterling Silver
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H 7.49 in W 8.67 in D 5.52 in
19th Century Victorian Figurative Solid Silver Boats, C S Harris, circa 1879
By Charles Stuart Harris
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Description Antique 19th century Victorian monumental solid silver pair of sauce boats, design greatly influenced by the 18th century Huguenot silversmiths such as Paul Lamerie and Lewis Mattayer, undoubtedly these sauce boats were made more for form than function, extremely heavy cast and very well modelled, depicting child mermen holding the shell shaped sauce boat, sides decorated with grotesque masks, shells and seaweeds, the handle modelled as a merman siting on a shell blowing a fog horn...
Sterling Silver
Antique Edwardian Sterling Silver Presentation Bowl by Charles Stuart Harris
By Charles Stuart Harris
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive, large antique Edwardian English sterling silver Monteith style presentation bowl made by Charles Stuart Harris; an addition to our ornamental silv...
Silver, Sterling Silver