Clasp thumbnail 1
Clasp thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

Clasp

1903-1904 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Established in 1875, Liberty's department store in London built its reputation on supplying artistic and unusual products. In 1899 it launched a line of 'Cymric' jewellery, which drew both the Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts styles. Cymric jewellery featured sinuous lines, unusual gemstones and often appeared to be hand-beaten. However, it was commercially produced using machine processes - something which enraged Arts and Crafts jewellers like C.R. Ashbee.

Cymric jewellery was very popular. Its success was partly due to the innovation and talent of the designers employed by Liberty, including Jessie M. King, who designed these buckles. King was based in Glasgow, and the buckles show the influence of the distinctive Glasgow style, best known in the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Buckle
  • Buckle
Materials and techniques
Silver with enamelled decoration
Brief description
Buckle of silver with enamel decoration, probably designed by Jessie M. King and produced for Liberty and Co. by Haseler & Co., 1903-04
Physical description
Belt clasp or buckle made of silver with enamel decoration, from the Cymric range sold by Liberty & Co.
Dimensions
  • Height: 4.50cm
  • Width: 3.20cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • Birmingham hallmarks for 1903-4
  • Mark of Liberty and Co.
  • CYMRIC
Credit line
Given by Mrs John Hull Grundy
Production
Produced for the Cymric jewellery range by Liberty & Company
Subject depicted
Summary
Established in 1875, Liberty's department store in London built its reputation on supplying artistic and unusual products. In 1899 it launched a line of 'Cymric' jewellery, which drew both the Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts styles. Cymric jewellery featured sinuous lines, unusual gemstones and often appeared to be hand-beaten. However, it was commercially produced using machine processes - something which enraged Arts and Crafts jewellers like C.R. Ashbee.

Cymric jewellery was very popular. Its success was partly due to the innovation and talent of the designers employed by Liberty, including Jessie M. King, who designed these buckles. King was based in Glasgow, and the buckles show the influence of the distinctive Glasgow style, best known in the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.255A-1964

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Record createdAugust 31, 2001
Record URL
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