A rare Liberty & Co Cymric silver bowl by Oliver Baker

Price range: Sold

For sale is this really authentic arts and crafts Liberty Cymric bowl by Oliver Baker (attributed with certainty). A really striking piece, the bowl is designed with Baker’s classic strapwork and curling feet.  Like most of Baker’s early Liberty designs it is a very good gauge of silver and very good “in the hand”.

This bowl appears in the first illustrated Cymric catalogue page 73 (with one extra odd leg). It is described as a salt priced at £3. 5s.  This is one of Baker’s crazier designs and I believe the inspiration for this bowl was likely an ancient vessel.  Baker was an antiquarian, as well as artist and, briefly, a designer, and it is quite possible this piece was inspired by a bowl he was selling.

Condition of the silver is excellent.

The bowl is fully hallmarked for  Birmingham 1899 – early in the Cymric joint venture between Haselers and Liberty. Most 1899 pieces still retain Liberty’s London mark.  Please see my article on Baker at this link if you wish to read more about him and his work.

Maker: Liberty & Co

Designer: Oliver Baker

Date : 1899

Marks: L&Co, Birmingham, “z”

Material: Sterling silver, turquoise

Condition: Excellent

Size: Height 9.0 cm, max diameter across handles, 4.75 cm high

Weight :  141 grams, 5.0 oz