A Liberty and Fleetwood Varley enamel silver box

Price range: £1,850

For sale is this beautiful Liberty silver box with Fleetwood Varley (attrib) central enamel.  The box is fully assayed for Liberty & Co, 1914.

The highlight of this box is the landscape enamel.  No signature is visible but it is without douby by Fleetwood Varley, and is especially fine.  The enamel has, I believe, been applied directly to a silver base, rather than a foiled copper base.  The effect is to create a particualry vibrant and translucent play of light across the meandering river, lush fields and sky.

Condition of the silver box is excellent. The plaque presents beautifully.  It has some fine hairline cracks in the sky area, most noticeable to the left side.  To the right of the box, some oxidisation of the underlying silver base has occurred where air has been able to enter under the enamel, darkening the enamel in the furthest right tree.

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: Fleetwood Varley (attrib)

Date: 1914

Marks: L&Co, Birmingham, d

Material: Silver, enamel,

Condition: Very good – see description

Size: Width 6.0 cm, Height 2.75 cm

Weight: 3.2 oz, 91 grams (incl enamel)