Button
1903-1906 (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.
Almost all of the Cymric jewellery range was manufactured by W.H. Haseler of Birmingham. The firm employed around 200 people working in a ‘factory system’ based on production lines and machine tools. As a result, jewellery could be produced relatively cheaply; one of these buttons would have cost in the region of five shillings.
Almost all of the Cymric jewellery range was manufactured by W.H. Haseler of Birmingham. The firm employed around 200 people working in a ‘factory system’ based on production lines and machine tools. As a result, jewellery could be produced relatively cheaply; one of these buttons would have cost in the region of five shillings.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 6 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Enamelled silver |
| Brief description | Set of silver buttons, enamelled with woodland scenes, made by Haseler & Co. for Liberty & Co., Birmingham, 1903-06 |
| Physical description | Set of silver buttons, enamelled with scenes of trees |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| 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. Almost all of the Cymric jewellery range was manufactured by W.H. Haseler of Birmingham. The firm employed around 200 people working in a ‘factory system’ based on production lines and machine tools. As a result, jewellery could be produced relatively cheaply; one of these buttons would have cost in the region of five shillings. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.287A to E-1961 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | January 10, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
