Antique Silver Mounted Faceted Glass Hip Flask

This unusual hip flask was produced at the very turn of the nineteenth century by Alexander Clark, having been founded just ten years earlier by Clift Alexander Mawer Clark and who initially operated from 138 Fenchurch Street, London. As the new century beckoned the firm’s name was also planned to change from Alexander Clark, to The Alexander Clark Manufacturing Co, capturing a new optimism for businesses looking forward to the 20th century and the opportunities it would offer. Consequently, it comes as no surprise that this lovely hip flask epitomises some of the rapid changes happening at the time; the silver mount was hallmarked in London using the 1891 Alexander Clark assay mark, whilst the silver plate cup (another strength of the growing business) is identified as being made by the 'Alexander Clark Manufacturing Co.' at the 188 Oxford St address. With this optimism and anticipated growth in business at the forefront of company thinking; further manufacturing premises had already been opened at 29 Market Place, Oxford Street in 1894, when Robert Frederick Mosley (the son of R.F. Mosley) joined the firm. Consolidating the optimism in 1901, Robert Frederick (who by then lived at the Clark’s Market Place workshop) and the Mosley family became partners in the new Clark company. From 1900 the firm could be seen as active from the Welbeck Works, Randall Street, Sheffield and then later transferring to James Street Works, St. Paul's, Birmingham, in 1918. In addition to these locations, the London activity moved to accommodate the growing business including: premises at; 29 Market Place, London (1894-1910), 188 Oxford Street, London (1900-1915), 125-126 Fernchurch Street, London (1909-1918), 38-40 Mitre Street, Aldgate, London (1921), 17 Sycamore Street, Sheffield (1921) and 38 Leadenhall Street, London (1941). In 1912 it was converted into a limited liability company and operated under the name The Alexander Clark Co Ltd. It was at this time the firm advertised reproduction silver historical pieces, including items from the Tudor period, Medieval beakers and antique jugs from the designs of those found at Pompeii. In 1914 the company had over 600 employees acting as silversmiths, cutlers and even specialising in mounting precious stones. They specialised in the production of silver, electroplate, cutlery and high-quality leather goods. They also produced their own brand of silverplate called ‘Welbeck Silver Plate’, and they marked these pieces with ‘Welbeck’. By 1918 the company started manufacturing in Birmingham, after the First World War and later went on to produce stainless steel flatware, continuing with the firm’s name until the 1940s. So, buy yourself a small affordable piece of history that reflects the success and speed of change at Alexander Clark.