Mappin & Webb - Edwardian collection buckle in sterling silver and guilloché enamel - Mappin & Webb - Enamel plate - .925 silver

Belt buckle in silver and green guilloché enamel with fleur-de-lis motifs, Mappin & Webb, 1911

Elegant belt buckle or sash crafted by the prestigious British firm Mappin & Webb, one of the most renowned silver manufacturers in the United Kingdom, with a long history dating from the 19th century serving high society and the British Royal Household. The piece reflects the Edwardian taste of the early 20th century and features a rectangular shape with softly rounded corners, central opening for the belt, and a hinged dual-taw on a transverse bar. The reverse is clearly signed 'MAPPIN & WEBB' and retains the British assay marks, including the león passant guaranteeing sterling silver and the date letter 'n' placing its manufacture in 1911.

It is made of sterling silver decorated on the front with a splendid translucent guilloché enamel in an intense emerald green, applied over a lathe-turned background that creates a subtle wave and depth effect beneath the glassy layer. Decorative motif highlights small gilded fleur-de-lis distributed evenly across the surface, providing a refined color contrast. The reverse, in polished plain silver, reveals the structure with the functional dual-taw. Approximate dimensions are 8 cm long by 5 cm high.

Condition: generally good. The guilloché enamel remains vibrant and largely intact, displaying the brightness and clarity characteristic of the technique. There are signs of wear and slight loss of gilding on the silver edges, oxidation and surface dark patina, as well as small marks and scratches from use on the back metal, consistent with its age. The metal frame shows light marks and the silver would benefit from cleaning, but there are no significant chips or cracks in the enamel field.

Mappin & Webb pieces in guilloché enamel are highly valued by collectors of Edwardian-era silverware and accessories. The combination of translucent green enamel with gilded fleur-de-lis motifs, the excellent enamel condition, and the signature of a house of such prestige, accompanied by clear London assay marks dated 1911, considerably enhance its appeal and interest. It is a collectible and decorative piece that reflects the craftsmanship of British jewelry and silverware of the early 20th century.

Period: 1911
Material: Silver, Enamel
Origin: United Kingdom
Manufacturer: Mappin & Webb
Condition: Excellent