The Art Nouveau-style silver and gold buckle, measuring 2½ x 3in (7 x 7.5cm) was modelled in the form of a female face with flowing hair and a blue enamel headband.
It had been estimated at £5000-8000 in Tennants’ (20% buyer’s premium) November 17 Fine Art Sale in Leyburn.
It was featured on the BBC Antiques Roadshow filmed at Castle Howard (broadcast on April 22). The vendor had been gifted the buckle by her uncle’s great aunt, who had moved to the UK from France in the 1890s.
According to Tennants, the buckle attracted attention “from all over the world, and after many competing bids finally sold to a bidder in the US. This wearable piece of art was made by Lalique (it is stamped with his name) during the early part of his career.”
Lalique began his working life as a jewellery designer and by the 1890s had set up his own workshop and become accomplished at incorporating enamel and increasingly glass into his work.
“It was only in 1907, after he went into partnership with a perfumer to create beautiful perfume bottles that he made the transition to focusing solely on becoming a master glass maker,” added Tennants.
“Belt buckles are relatively scarce in the output of Lalique’s career as a jeweller, and this charming example certainly attracted collectors of Lalique and belt buckle enthusiasts.”
