“Fenella”, a Liberty & Co Cymric silver clasp or buckle

Price: Sold

For sale is this silver clasp or buckle designed by Archibald Knox for Liberty & Co’s Cymric range.  The design sketch appears in the V&A’s archive of Silver Studio material.  The buckle has celtic name Fenella, the name of a small beach in Peel, near the castle on the Isle of Man. Also made famous as the character in a Walter Scott book set in Peel.  The buckle appears in the Liberty Silver Sketch book, model 151 and is on page 279 of Steve Martin’s book “Archibald Knox” second edition.  This example is enameled and conceivably this buckle was once enameled.

This piece is fully hallmarked on one side of the buckle, the other side carries no marks.  There is some sign of an old solder repair to the underside.  Overall it presents in excellent condition.

I am grateful to Chris Hobdell of the Archibald Knox forum for confirming this is indeed a Knox, not Veazey, design.

Maker: Liberty & Co

Designer: Archibald Knox

Date: 1901

Marks: L & Co, Birmingham, date letter “b”, Cymric

Material: Sterling silver

Condition: Very good, see description

Size: 7 cm wide

Weight : 29 grams, 1.0 oz