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A Liberty & Co Cymric silver footed bowl. Hallmarked London 1898. This is  an early Archibald Knox design and the hallmark is a very rare Liberty & Co London “c” date. Quite possibly this bowl was exhibited in the first May 1899 Exhibition of Cymric silver that launched the range. The bowl is Exhibit 5 in the May 1899 Cymric catalogue, named the Maya, and is also illustrated in the slightly later Liberty Cymric catalogue – see images.  The original design drawing by Knox for this bowl, titled Maya, is held in the Silver Studio archive, held by MODA, Middlesex University.

See article by myself, Anthony Bernbaum, entitled “Origins of the Liberty Cymric range”  in the Archibald Knox Society Journal 2014 Volume III, Page 26.  Liberty registered their new London marks in the final week of May 1899, one week before the London date letter changed to “d” for 1899/1900. Hence the London date letter “c” must date this piece to May 1898 quite probably making it one of the first pieces in the Cymric range presumably then exhibited at the launch of the range in the first Cymric catalogue of May 1899.  A similarly early rare Cymric salt with London date letter “c” can be found on display in the silver gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum Ref CIRC 320-1976.

Maker: Liberty & Co

Designer: Archibald Knox (attrib)

Date : 1898

Marks: Ly & Co Liberty mark, London, date latter “c”

Material: Sterling silver

Condition: Excellent

Size: 5.5cm  high, 11.5cm diameter

Weight : 250  grams, 8.8 oz