Price range: £285

A rare silver, copper and carnelian buckle. Based on period photos of similar buckles in the “Arts & Crafts [Journal]”, July 1904, Issue 1 number 2, page 88,  I am confident in attributing this buckle to the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts c 1905.  The buckle has a copper base to which silver flower petals have been soldered with a further inner silver wirework surround.  The clasps are also silver (see image of back).

The Camberwell School of Art and Craft in Camberwell, London, England was officially opened on 6 January 1898. In 1986 it was absorbed into the London Institute, since 2004 known as the University of the Arts London. It has many famous alumni but in the arts and crafts era appears to have produced very talented craftsman about whom little is known. The Arts & Crafts journal notes that School had excellent silver/metalwork and design teachers being Mr Cowell and Mr W H Meggs respectively.

Mixed metal (silver and copper) pieces are relatively rare in English silver and this is an excellent example of an arts and crafts buckle.

Maker: Camberwell School of Art  (attrib)

Designer: Camberwell School of Art (attrib)

Date : c 1905

Marks: Unmarked

Material: Sterling silver, copper, carnelian

Condition: Excellent

Size: 8.0cm diameter

Weight : 1.1 oz, 30 grams (not silver weight)