Description
each with gently tapering nozzles above spirally scrolled supports terminating in a carrying handle, raised above a sphere on four pierced and curved legs with scroll feet, hallmarked Birmingham 1899 (2)
Dimensions
26.5cm high
Footnote
Literature; Bury, Shirley 'Liberty's 1875-1975', introductory essay, Victoria & Albert Museum catalogue, published London 1974, pages 13-16.
Note; Liberty & Co. began sponsoring a range of silverware late in 1898 or early 1899 and by the spring of that year enough silver had been commissioned for a small exhibition and the range was given the title 'Cymric'.
The Birmingham firm of W.H. Haseler, makers of the current lot, would become the makers of the bulk of the 'Cymric' range. A formal arrangement was made with Haselers in the autumn of 1899 however it is thought that a relationship with the firm existed before this time, indeed Liberty's were thought to have 'farmed out' orders for silver locally but came to rely on the services of Haselers. Although it is compelling to imagine that these unusual sticks formed part of this early project the absence of the L&Co. mark makes this less likely although not impossible as records of the relationship between the two firms do not exist. Liberty's sent examples of Cymric work to the Arts & Crafts exhibition of 1899, and their star turn at this exhibition was the work in silver of the Birmingham painter and antiquary Oliver Baker. Baker was certainly produced designs for Haselers at this time, typically heavily scrolling archaic designs reflecting his work as an antiquary but incorporating the sinuous line of Art Nouveau.