BIRMINGHAM, UK – A Liberty & Co silver Cymric mantel clock exceeded all expectations yesterday in reaching a hammer price of £17,000 (US$26,225) at Fellows’ auction of Silver & Plated Wares, with Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers. The price paid for the clock was more than 10 times the presale estimate.
Due to its tarnished appearance, the silver clock was not highly valued by the consignor, who agreed to an estimate of £800-£1,200 ($1,235-$1,850), however it was snapped up by a private collector who was prepared to pay what the market dictated.
Hallmarked “Liberty & Co Ltd, Birmingham 1902,” the front of the piece is embossed with a foliate motif. Coupled with stylized numerals on the clock face, it had the quintessential “Liberty” look that collectors love. The Liberty department store, situated in a magnificent mock-Tudor building on Great Marlborough Street in London, has been a beloved and visionary retailer since 1924.
History of Liberty London:
In 1875, Arthur Lasenby Liberty borrowed £2,000 from his future father-in-law and took over half of 218a Regent Street with three dedicated staff. Devoted to his vision of an Eastern bazaar and determined to change the look of homeware and fashion, Arthur Liberty’s collection of ornaments, fabric and objets d’art proved irresistible to a society intoxicated by Japan and the East. Within 18 months the loan was repaid, the second half of 218a Regent Street was bought and neighboring properties were added to house the ever-increasing demand for carpets and furniture.
By 1884, Arthur Liberty was working with Costume Society founder Edward William Godwin creating in-house apparel to challenge the fashions of Paris. As a Royal Warrant holder dedicated to quality, Liberty also forged strong relationships with many British designers, most famously the protagonists of the Art Nouveau movement. These are traditions that continue today in the store’s commitment to inspirational, impeccably made goods and services.
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For more information about free valuation days, held every Wednesday at Fellows in the Jewellery Quarter, or to enquire about consigning silver items to a future Fellows auction, call +44 0121 212 2131, or visit www.fellows.co.uk.
View the Sept. 21, 2015 auction catalog, complete with prices realized, at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
Special thanks to Liberty London for information about its history.