“Floris”, an exceptional Archibald Knox for Liberty & Co Cymric silver buckle

Price: £1,450

For sale is this rare Archibald Knox silver buckle designed for Liberty & Co’s Cymric range in c 1898.  The “Floris” as it was called appears as Exhibit 35 in the first Liberty Cymric catalogue of May 1899 and also in the slightly later illustrated Cymric catalogue.  The design drawing is held in the Silver Studio archive.   See images. The buckle appears in Dr Stephen Martin’s book “Archibald Knox” on page 270.  It is model 196 in the Liberty sketch book.

It is, in my view, one of Knox’s best buckle designs.  There is something very modern and balanced about the way the stylized flowers have been drawn to create a rectangular form, with the swirling plant stems representing a very paired back modern take on art nouveau.

In excellent condition.

This piece is fully hallmarked for Birmingham 1902.  It is one piece only, matching the design in the Liberty sketch book (available on request).

Maker: Liberty & Co

Designer: Archibald Knox

Date: 1902

Marks: L & Co, Birmingham, date letter “c”

Material: Sterling silver

Condition: Excellent

Size: 8.0 cm x 5.0 cm

Weight : 34 grams, 1.2 oz