An Archibald Knox and Fleetwood Varley enamel silver menu holder

Price range: Reserved

For sale is this beautiful Archibald Knox silver menu holder with Fleetwood Varley central enamel.  Two of the great designers of the arts and crafts period in one piece.  A real rarity.  The menu holder is fully assayed for Liberty & Co, with date letter rubbed.  This piece would date to c 1905. The enamel is not signed but has all the characteristics of Fleetwood Varley and depicts a glistening river flowing through a landscape.   This menu holders appears in the Liberty Silver sketch book model 4753, and a very similar model 475 appears in Dr Stephen Martin’s book “Archibald Knox” page 273.  A different Knox menu holder with Varley style enamel also appears on that same page.

Condition is excellent and original.  This menu holder typically appears with the central enamel of a Knox Celtic or triskelion design.

Charles Fleetwood Varley (1874-1959) was a metalworker, enameller and painter. Fleetwood Charles Varley commonly known as Fleetwood C. Varley was born in Chelsea, Middlesex the son of George Varley, artist and photographer.  He is most famous as an enameller, mainly of landscapes, working for both the Guild of Handicraft and Liberty’s.

Maker: Liberty & Co

Designer: Archibald Knox / Fleetwood Varley

Date: c. 1905

Marks: L&Co, Birmingham, letter unclear

Material: Silver, enamel,

Condition: Excellent, date mark rubbed

Size: Width 5.0 cm, Height 2.5 cm

Weight: 0.6oz, 18 grams (incl enamel)