A Liberty & Co Cymric silver and yellow green enamel box, possibly a biscuit box. The lid is double hinged and inset with blister pearls. Hallmarked Birmingham 1900, the design is attributed to Archibald Knox. This is one of only two known enamelled pieces of this design, the other being in the Victoria and Albert Museum on display in the silver gallery ref M.25-1972. An exceptional example illustrating one of Knox’s earliest modernist Celtic designs.
Photograph and description courtesy of The Peartree Collection.
Absolutely fantastic example of early Knox design. This was on show at the 2014 Olympia exhibition and it took my breath away when I saw it.
Archibald Knox for Liberty & Co
A Rare 'Cymric' Silver and Blister Pearl Biscuit Box, 1901.
The tapering cylindrical vessel raised on square base, fashioned with celtic-inspired knots, the hinged lid with two compartments, each enhanced with a large inset blister pearl, and having two curved handles.
20cm high, stamped 'L&C' to base with 'Cymric' and Birmingham hallmarks.
FOOTNOTES:
Literature: 'Archibald Knox' by Stephen A. Martin, 2001 page 245 illustrates a similar box but with enamelled detail.
Photograph and description courtesy of Bonhams.
