William Hair Haseler Silver Cigar Case

While I was in the U.K. I came across this very large cigar case. I recognize it immediately, it is the work of William H Haseler, I do have a couple of his cigarette cases here on CW. It as a Birmingham hallmark and a date mark for the year 1910 also his makers mark. The case measures approx 16 cm in length 7 1/2 in across and weighs a hefty 180 grams.

He is a interesting character. He was very influential with Liberty and I've put a few details of him and his connection to Liberty & Co, below.

William H Haseler was born to John and Sarah Evert (Hair) Haseler in 1821/1882 in Birmingham. He married Elizabeth Rabonne in 1851 and together they had 6 children. In 1870, Haseler founded the company, W. H. Haseler & Co, specializing in gold and silver work, and jewellery.

Five years later, Arthur Lasenby Liberty (1843-1912) started a small shop on the corner of Regent St in London. Specializing in exotic goods from Japan and the Far East, his business thrived and he became a leading merchant to the upper classes, including famous members of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. The store soon became the most fashionable place in London, featuring luxurious wares including fabrics, clothing, furniture, clocks, jewellery, wallpapers and decorative objects of all kinds. His efforts to promote the Art Nouveau style, with its depiction of leaves and flowers in flowing ornamental lines, were so influential that the term "Stile Liberty" became the accepted term for the style.

During the 1890s, Liberty formed relationships with leading English designers. In 1898 Liberty and Haseler created a formal partnership to launch the Cymric silver line under the title Liberty and Co Cymric (Ltd) " using free lance designers. One of those designers, Archibald Knox (1864-1933) began designing for Liberty in 1899. He forcused on the new Celtic design work for the Cymric range and its Pewter counterpart, known as Tudric. Haseler was responsible for making many of Knox's designs. Knox was a highly gifted designer and is largely credited with the success of Cymric silverware. He continued to design for Liberty until 1912.

William H Haseler died 1909 in Shropshire, but his company continued in partnership with Liberty until 1926. Haseler pieces can be found in collections of the V&A museum in London, as well as many museums throughout Britain.

Many thanks for looking.