A George V 'Arts and Crafts' sterling silver mounted birch wood three-piece cruet set, London 1935 by Henry George Murphy (1884-1939)

Comprising a salt, pepper pot, mustard pot with mustard spoon. The bodies of turned birch, with silver interiors and corded edges, screw thread fitted feet. The lid to pepper and mustard with simple chased scalloped edges. Each fully and part-marked, with falcon mark. (4)

Pepper height – 7.7 cm / 3 inches

In 1904 Henry enrolled as a student at the Central School of Arts and crafts and, whilst still a student, joined the staff as a teacher at the Royal College of Art. Left the Royal College of Art (1911), Harry became a teacher of goldsmithing, jewellery and enamelling at the Central School of Arts (1912). In 1928 Murphy opened a workshop in Weymouth Street, Marylebone under the style "The Falcon Studio", deriving this name from that of his wife Jessie, being "Jess" the leather strap fastened around each leg of a hawk in falconry.
Despite the success of its production "The Falcon Studio" suffered financial problems and Murphy obtained in 1932 the position of Head of Silversmithing and, soon after, the post of Principal of the Central School of Arts and crafts.