The Rokesley Shop started operation in Cleveland at about the same time as the Kalo Shop. Its name was taken from parts of the of the owners' names -- Louis Rorheimer, Mary Blakeslee and Ruth Smedley. (Rorheimer changed his name to Rorimer during World War I to make it less German-sounding.)
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Rare Rokesley spoon with round bowl and repoussé bird's head on pierced handle.
5-1/4" L and 1-11/16" W. Marked: ROKESLEY / STERLING
In an excellent article on the Cleveland School (Silver Magazine, May/June 2005) author Leslie Marting provides a brief history of the Shop:
"A graduate of the Cleveland School of Art, [Louis Rorimer] taught courses in modeling and interior design there from 1895 to 1919, with Horace Potter as his student, then assistant. Rorimer studied and traveled widely in Europe, and founded an interior design studio in Cleveland in 1896. In 1910 it became Rorimer-Brooks Studios, one of America's leading interior design firms. Like Potter, Rorimer was well versed in the Arts and Crafts guild tradition in England and Europe, and patterned his workshops in a similar manner. His impressive studio was divided among the various crafts of cabinetry, carving, finishing, and upholstery. While Rorimer himself did not create silver objects, he played a vital role in the establishment of the Rokesley Shop, which did.
"'Rokesley' is a combination of letters from Rorimer's name, along with those of three women who were his former students -- Carolyn Hadlow, Ruth Smedley and Mary Blakeslee. Formed around 1904, the shop was located on the premises of Rorimer's studio. They produced metalwork, including silver and silver and enamel jewelry, and exhibited together until Blakeslee left the group in 1912 and Smedley died in 1920."
Rokesley specialized in jewelry and smaller items, often enameled. The gold bracelet below is unusual, and striking. Rorimer was trained in Germany and France. The bracelet design shows this French influence.
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Bracelet, hand wrought in 14K gold with four swollen rectangular plaques joined by small oval links. Each plaque with a highly detailed applied water chestnut design with swirling branches in an Art Nouveau style. Beautifully crafted. Subtle hammering. |
7-3/8" L
Signed: ROKESLEY / 14K |
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Pendant, enameled, with pearl drop, on chain with barrel clasp. Curving shield form with slightly concave top, and sides that bulge out at the top, then taper downward, and finally flare a bit at the bottom and then come to a point. Elongated pearl drop descends from point. Pendant has saw-pierced details and green and purple enamel in the form of an orchid or iris.
Pendant: 1-13/16" H and 1" W Chain: 18-1/2" L Signed: STERLING / [H / BS in a circle mark] |
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Bar pin, handwrought in sterling silver, with cluster of blossoms and leaves centering a bezel-set blister pearl. Enamel embellishments on the flowers and leaves. Textured silver surface, beautifully worked.
2-3/16" L and 11/16" H
Signed: ROKESLEY / STERLING |
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Tea strainer with short slightly pointed tab handle at one end, and longer one at the other. Round bowl with spiral pierced design of large and small holes. Pierced and repoussé floral designs at each end, and small pierced geometric fork-like design at on the larger tab handle. Heavily hammered surfaces.
5-5/16" L and 2-7/8" W
Signed: STERLING / ROKESLEY |
