A boxed set of rare Liberty teaspoons

Price: Sold

For sale is this rare set of six Liberty teaspoons in their original wooden box.  As far as I know these are the only teaspoons of this design known, previously only identified in a photo in the 1900 illustrated Cymric catalogue page 79, number 3 (with turquoise stones). That same photo is reproduced (also) on page 79 of Simon Moore’s book “Artists spoons and related table cutlery”.

These spoons are unlike nearly all others I have handled in the Liberty Cymric range.  Of a good gauge of silver, they are hand made with a complex wire work design, each spoon  holding two light green chrysoprase.

The designer of these spoons is unknown and it is easier to say who did not design  them – Knox, Baker and Veazey can all be excluded. I also think it very unlikely they were made by Haselers.  Whilst it has been proposed these may represent the work of the Gaskins, I think it much more likely they are the work of A H Jones or Bernard Cuzner, both from the Birmingham School.

Both were producing jewellery to this type of design at this time and both are known designers for Liberty.  The two infact formed a partnership 1902-1904.

This spoon design is model 306 on page 383 of the Liberty silver sketch book, Westminster Archive.

Condition of box and spoons is very good, with just one spoon showing some distortion to its handle.

Maker:  Liberty & Co

Designer:  A H Jones or Bernard Cuzner (attrib)

Date: 1900

Marks: L & Co, Birmingham, “a”

Material: Sterling silver, chrysoprase

Condition: Very good. Slight damage to one spoon.

Size: 9.2 cm long

Weight: 0.3 0z, 9 grams each