Arthur & Bond

Arthur & Bond was an English company based in Yokohama, Japan, during the Meiji period. Known for producing high-quality silverware and luxury goods, the firm catered primarily to English expatriates and foreign travellers, offering a range of statement pieces that were particularly sought after.

In addition to silverware, Arthur & Bond retailed and manufactured a diverse selection of fine goods, including gold lacquer, chased, hammered, and inlaid metalwork, ivory carvings, embroideries, cloisonné, porcelain, furniture, and domestic items. Their business cards listed these specialities, highlighting their role as purveyors of high-end Japanese craftsmanship for a Western clientele.

The firm expanded its operations beyond Yokohama, opening a second branch in Kobe and a shop in London at 52 St. Mary Axe. Its products were also retailed in the United States by G. W. Sheldon & Co., further solidifying its international reach.

Arthur & Bond's most renowned commission is the Liscum Bowl, created as a memorial to Colonel Emerson H. Liscum, who was killed in China in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion. This extraordinary piece, crafted from silver bullion salvaged by the U.S. Army, is adorned with Imperial dragons and is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Meiji-era silverwork. It remains a treasured possession of the 9th United States Infantry.

The firm's success was cut short in 1923 when the Great Kantō Earthquake devastated Yokohama, leading to significant financial losses. No further records of Arthur & Bond's operations exist beyond this point.