top of page

Art Nouveau

​

Art Nouveau is a style of decorative arts, most popular between 1890 and 1910. Art Nouveau embraces vibrant and swirling designs. The leading producer at the height of popularity of Art Nouveau was WMF of Germany. Art Nouveau is known as Jugendstil in Germany. Art Nouveau was also popular in France with silver from Schweitzer and Fort and some outstanding pieces of jewellery.

Jugendstil relief-moulded pewter dish by WMF, Germany. model 232 c.1906

£750

Jugendstil relief-moulded pewter dish by WMF, model 232

Engraved silver box by Schweitzer and Fort.

Paris c.1905

£425

Engraved silver box by Schweitzer and Fort.  Paris c.1905

Charles Horner was based in Halifax until his death in 1896. Charles Horner designs included enamelled brooches, pendants and hatpins. His two sons developed the business and even opened a new factory in 1905.

Charles Horner

silver amethyst brooch.

Chester 1900

sold for £125

Charles Horner silver amethyst brooch. Chester 1900

Charles Horner set of six silver buttons. 1.9cm dia. Chester 1904

£150

Charles Horner set of six silver buttons. Chester 1904

Charles Horner

silver and enamel bat pendant. Chester 1909

£400

Charles Horner  silver and enamel bat pendant. Chester 1909

The London department store Liberty & Co built relationships with leading designers in the 1890s. It was a major retailer of Art Nouveau products. Arthur Liberty made sure he promoted the name of ‘Liberty’ and not the names of his designers. In 1899 Archibald Knox started designing for Liberty. He had previously worked for Christopher Dresser.  ‘Cymric’ was the silver range and ‘Tudric’ was the pewter range.

Knox stopped working for Liberty in 1912.

Pair of Archibald Knox candlesticks . Liberty Tudric 0221 c.1903

£800

Pair of Archibald Knox candlesticks . Liberty Tudric 0221

Archibald Knox Tudric pewter milk jug, Liberty 0303

c.1906

£350

Tudric pewter milk jug, Liberty 0303  c.1906

Archibald Knox Liberty Cymric silver spoons 1904 & 1905

£220/£260

Archibald Knox Liberty Cymric silver spoon
Archibald Knox Liberty Cymric silver spoon
David Veasey pewter clock Liberty Tudric 0385

Designer David Veasey (who sometimes signed his pieces ‘Tramp’) was there at the start of the Tudric range, having won a design competition. Veasey designed beautiful clocks and pewter and glass items.In 1901, Liberty took a 60% share in the Birmingham metalworking firm of W H Haseler, run by William Hair Haseler. Many Liberty Cymric pieces bear the WHH hallmark. From 1903, W. H. Haseler took over the manufacture of Liberty’s Tudric range.

David Veasey pewter clock Liberty Tudric 0385, c.1905

20.5cm high

£3,950

Liberty & Co silver pendant necklace  by William Hair Haseler

Liberty & Co silver pendant necklace

by William Hair Haseler

£1750

Liberty Art N silver Art Nouveau belt buckle attributed to Oliver Baker

Liberty silver belt buckle

attributed to Oliver Baker

1912

£425

Not all Tudric designs can be assigned to a well-known designer. Makers like Charles Peyton, who had helped develop Liberty’s Cymric range, continued to produce their own designs.

Liberty & Co Tudric pewter inkwell, design 0141

Liberty & Co Tudric pewter inkwell, design 0141

15.5cm square

£950

Of course, Liberty had no monopoly of Art Nouveau silver and pewter products. Provincial silversmiths, including William Neale, Joseph Gloster, T. H. Hazlewood and Oliver Baker were active and successful. 

Art Nouveau Silver Box by T.H.Hazlewood

Art Nouveau silver box

by T.H.Hazlewood & Co.

10cm across. Birmingham 1901

£350

Charles Payton silver and enamel Art Nouveau brooch of a stylised butterfly.

Charles Payton silver and enamel brooch of a stylised butterfly. 1908

£695

Matched pair of Art Nouveau silver photograph frames by William Neale

Matched pair of silver photograph frames by William Neale,

30.5cm high. Chester 1902

£2,250

Art Nouveau Silver photo-frame by Joseph Gloster.

Silver photo-frame

by Joseph Gloster.

29.5cm high. Birmingham 1908

£850

bottom of page