Kate Harris (1878 – 1949) is considered one of the most important designers of the London silversmiths William Hutton & Sons.

From 1899 to 1905 she created exquisite designs for art silver. Her work was frequently published in The Studio magazine, received critical acclaim and is still admired by collectors.

The period from 1880 to 1914 provided new opportunities for women artists in both training and employment, and more and more women artists and designers appeared in the leading art magazines of the time.

Kate Harris’ designs are based on organic forms, with sinuous botanical motifs dominating her work, consistent with the canons of classical Art Nouveau. Her style is more restrained than her counterparts in the continental Art Nouveau style. The silverware created from her designs demonstrates the elegance and simple beauty that is so characteristic of Harris’ work.

Although Kate Harris was one of Hutton & Sons’ most brilliant talents, her name was completely unknown to the general public. It was standard commercial practice for designs to be considered the property of the firm rather than the individual designer. As a result, even successful artists like her remained largely anonymous, and it was difficult, especially for women, to build a successful artistic career. It is largely for this reason that little is known about Kate Harrison’s life and career. We are left to admire her talent, embodied in silver.