An exceptionally rare Liberty & Co Cymric silver sugar cigarette case, hallmarked London 1900, date letter “e”.  This is undoubtedly an early formative Archibald Knox design and this piece will appear in Dr Stephen Martin’s forthcoming third edition of his seminal work “Archibald Knox”.

The Cymric range was launched in May 1899, just one week prior to the start of the 1899 London assay year date letter “d”. By the end of 1899 Liberty had registered its Birmingham marks, and most pieces from c 1900 carry the Birmingham mark “a”.  This unusually carries the London date letter “e”.  I have written about these early pieces before, notably A513 and my article “Origins of the Liberty Cymric range“.

Maker: Liberty & Co

Designer: Archibald Knox

Date : 1900

Marks: Ly & Co Liberty mark, London, date latter “e”

Size: 1.0 cm high, 10.25 cm long, 7.75 cm wide

Weight : 123 grams, 4.3 Oz

Photographs and description courtesy of The Peartree Collection.