A beautifully crafted silver and enamel belt buckle by Levi & Salaman, hallmarked Birmingham, 1910.
Octagonal in form, the silver frame is detailed with translucent white guilloché enamel — engine-turned beneath the surface to catch the light - and hand-painted with a border of blue forget-me-nots and green leaf tendrils.
The enamel is crisp and luminous, with a clarity rarely preserved in functional accessories of this age.
Originally designed to fasten a sash or fabric belt, the buckle would have added a refined, decorative note to early 20th-century dress.
Today, it translates effortlessly into modern styling: worn with a silk or velvet ribbon as a waist belt, reimagined as a clasp on a tailored coat or blazer, or adapted into a pendant or hairpiece with the help of a jeweller. It has that rare quality - detailed but unfussy - that allows it to sit comfortably in both historical and contemporary wardrobes.
The floral motif is not just charming, but quietly symbolic: forget-me-nots were often associated with affection and memory, making this a piece that carries personal sentiment as well as visual appeal.
The octagonal shape - less common than oval or rectangular examples - lends a touch of modern geometry to its otherwise delicate form.
Levi & Salaman were renowned for their decorative silver and enamel work, producing elegant, finely finished pieces that bridged the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau movements.
This buckle is a strong example of their aesthetic: technically precise, beautifully proportioned, and easy to wear.
Hallmarked with the maker’s mark for Levi & Salaman and full British hallmarks for Birmingham, 1910.
Dimensions: 5.4cm x 4.1cm. Weight: 18.1g.
Elegant, expressive, and remarkably versatile - a fine antique accessory with enduring modern charm.
Available exclusively at ELTONS, Grays Antique Market, Mayfair, London.