Hawstead Hall Antiques

A Cast Silver Art Nouveau Belt Buckle.William Comyns. London Hallmarks 1907.

The late 19th Century saw the introduction of Art Nouveau inspired designs,with scrolling flowers,foliage and diaphanous maidens, the exotic being toned down to appeal to a mass market. Arts and Crafts wares,covered with spot hammering were also made in large quantities, the hammer marks suggesting that each piece was made by hand.Needless to say this style of decoration was also mass produced. Another important product of the factory was a range of cast and pierced Buckles and Chatelaines,the Buckles often bought by Nurses upon qualification or promotion, and the Chatelaines by Housekeepers, maintaining a tradition of two centuries. → ←