Like the Kalo Shop and other American Arts and Crafts endeavors, the Handicraft Guild was influenced by C.R. Ashbee's school and Guild of Handicraft, founded in 1888 in London, and by Japanese craft traditions. A course catalog summed up the Handicraft Guild's mission: "[to] give authoritative instruction in design and its solution in terms of materials; also to furnish complete training for students desirous of becoming Craftsmen, Designers and Teachers." The Handicraft Guild was an egalitarian organization, and most objects made by its members were marked only with the cipher HG. This hand-hammered silver nut spoon has a cutout geometric design that was also used as decoration for nut bowls produced in copper and silver by the guild. |