Nathaniel Mills Furniture

A truly delightful miniature terrestrial pocket globe in a celestial case, 3 inches / 6.8 cm. The globe consists of 12 wonderful varnished, engraved hand-coloured gores that stretch from pole to pole. In the original case of black fish-skin with a brass hinge and two brass hook-and-eyelet closures, case with a unique silver plaque which reads: "B. Bellchamber S. King - Gul's Fox Summum Geographicum Praemium Pares Meruere". * [This very roughly translates to:] "B. Bellchamber S. King - Gul's Fox Earns Top Geographical Peers Award". *Is it too much to suppose and speculate that this wonderful silver plaque attached to the outer case is in recognition of a [geographic?] scholastic achievement? The prize awarded to the lucky recipients (B. Bellchamber & S. King?) is this globe? This terrestrial globe has two repairs; to the area concerning the British Isles, and also to parts of Europe and Scandinavia (with some loss). There is some slight loss to a portion of North America, and there is a crack to the northern portion of South America. It is partly worn in other places and has some slight spotting. It is lacking the axis metal pin, and the two holes that normally allow for this pin have been closed. The case is split and segmented, partly rubbed and worn with cracks, (as is usual.) The case will close. There is some minor chipping and cracking to the outer rim of the inside of the case. About Pocket Globes. It is generally thought that Joseph Moxon brought pocket globes to England in the late seventeenth century. These globes usually consist of a terrestrial sphere of about 7.5 cm in diameter that fits into an outer case (usually made of fish-skin). The interior of this case often bears bright, colourful celestial cartography, so you effectively have the celestial heavens surrounding the terrestrial earth. Pocket globes, although highly desirable, are for all intents and purposes somewhat impractical, as their size makes accurate calculations impossible. Few, if any, pocket globes came with accompanying booklets, so it is hard for anyone to know who used them and for what purposes. Pocket globes could simply have served purely as status symbols for wealthy gentlemen, who had an interest in geography or astronomy. The fields of geography and the sciences were quickly advancing during this period. Alternatively, pocket globes could be seen as a tool used in children’s education, especially when you think that they are construction from cheap materials such as papier-mâché. Points of Interest. This particular globe shows California as a peninsula, whereas previously it had been depicted as an island – a misconception dating back to the sixteenth century; it has the northwest coast of America simply as "unknown parts."; - due to a profound lack of knowledge of the region; the track of Admiral George Anson’s circumnavigation of the world (1740-44) is drawn – Anson led a squadron of eight ships on a mission to disrupt or capture the Pacific Ocean possessions of the Spanish Empire, for emphases, the trade winds are indicated by red arrows. There are three large lakes engraved in Africa that may longer exist. The Celestial Gores. The celestial gores, housed within the case, are fun and eye-catching both in their display and in their content. Constellations and both hemispheres and are represented. Gemini, Cancer, Virgo, Orion, Andromeda, Taurus, Leo, Ursa Major etc in the north, and Scorpio, Libra, Canis Major etc in the south. A celestial globe is a mapping of the stars, and has been used since classical times. Celestial globes were first used by Greek astronomers, and later by the Islamic world, where the earliest known globes date from the eleventh century. The stars were thought to sit on the surface of a giant sphere around the earth, and the constant movement of the stars each night and throughout the year appeared to be caused by this giant sphere slowly turning overhead. In line with its counterpart, the terrestrial globe, celestial globes are mapped by a north and a south pole, an equator, and lines of latitude and longitude. The Terrestrial Globe. The North Pole encompasses the Arctic Circle, Baffin Bay (Canada), Iceland, Greenland, northern Siberia and Nuova Zembla. Europe shows the Dominion of Muscovy (a principality of the late Middle Ages centered on Moscow), Turkey, the British Isles, Italy etc. Africa highlights the Barbary coast, Biledulgerid (a former country in North Africa), the Zaara Desart (Sahara Desert), Negroland (an archaic term in European mapping referring to large portions of West Africa), Guinea, Ethiopia, Congo, the islands of the Azores and the Canaries. Australia (New Holland) shows the outdated cartography of an incomplete coastline; The West Australian and Northern Territory coastlines are in full, however, there is no connected mainland coastline from South Australia up to Northern Queensland. Papua New Guinea is still thought to be a part of the Australian mainland. A portion of Tasmania’s coastline is engraved. The only places/regions mentioned are: Dimens Land and Carpentaria in the north; Lewins, St. Francis, Mary’s Island, South Cape, and Dimens Land in the south. Interestingly, a place named Hartog’s Island is mentioned off the West Australian coast. This island has a unique place within Australia’s history as it is the first recorded European landing on Australian soil in 1616 by the island’s namesake, Dutch captain Dirk Hartog...

Heading : Nathaniel Mills sterling silver vinaigrette Date : Hallmarked in Birmingham in 1842 for Nathaniel Mills Period : Victoria Origin : Birmingham, England Decoration : Tooled c...

A very fine antique repousse work & engraved sterling silver gilt castle top cigar/cheroot case, Nathaniel Mills Birmingham 1840. This very finely crafted silver case is made by the ...

Heading : Nathaniel Mills vinaigrette Date : Hallmarked in Birmingham in 1825 for Nathaniel Mills Period : George IV Origin : Birmingham, ...

Heading : Nathaniel Mills sterling silver snuff box Date : Hallmarked in Birmingham in 1835 for Nathanial Mills Period : William IV Origin : Birmingham, England Decoration : The body...

Heading : Sterling silver snuff box Date : Hallmarked in Birmingham in 1843 for Nathaniel Mills Period : Victoria Origin : Birmingham, England Decoration : Embellished with tooled cr...

Heading : Sterling silver Vinaigrette Date : Hallmarked in Birmingham in 1832 for Nathaniel Mills Period : William IV Origin : Birmingham, England Decoration : Embellished with toole...

Nathaniel Mills. A very rare Castle Top Vinaigrette depicting a scarce view of Warwick Castle from the River Avon. Made in Birmingham in 1847 by Nathaniel M...

William 1V Castle Top Card Case,Abbotsford & Newstead Abbey,Nat Mills,1836 Fine two scene silver card case in original fitted leather and velvet lined c...

Nathaniel Mills castle-top card case, depicting St Paul’s Cathedral London, in high relief. The card case is shaped in a rectangular form with the view surrounded by scroll, flowerhead and foliate decoration on a matted ground. The reverse is decorated in a similar fashion to the front, around a shaped cartouche engraved with "N.M'. St Paul's is not a view which is seen often on card cases, especially in high relief. Nathaniel Mills was the finest maker of this type of card case. Weight: 72.4g Nathaniel Mills: The founder of brand name, Nathaniel Mills, the elder registered the maker's mark at the Birmingham Assay Office in 1803 while being a partner in "Mills and Langston, Jewellers Northwood". In 1825, he registered his own mark "N.M" within the rectangle and started to produce silverware. He became especially recognizable for his objects of vertu, such as well-constructed silver and gold boxes...

Hallmarked in Birmingham in 1844 by Nathaniel Mills, this fine quality, Victorian, Antique Sterling Silver Castle Top Card Case, features a high relief chased scene of The Scott...

Victorian silver double-sided "Castle-Top" cheroot/cigar case Windsor castle and Warwick castle. This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver cheroot/cigar case has a rectangular form, both sides and finely chased with scrolls, leaves and flower heads above and below high relief panels depicting Windsor Castle and Kenilworth Castle. Hinged lid and moulded sides. Kenilworth is one of England’s most spectacular castles. Once standing at the heart of a vast hunting ground and surrounded by a huge man-made lake, it represented a rich prize to the generations of great men who owned and embellished it – among them John of Gaunt...

A fine William IV silver gilt vinaigrette, of slender rounded rectangular form, engine-turned decoration, foliate thumb-piece, the interior with a silver gilt pierced and engraved foliate grille. Maker: Nathaniel Mills...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver castle top vinaigrette depicting Abbotsford House, an addition to our collectable box collection. This exceptional antique silver vinaigrette has a rectangular form with rounded corners. The cover of this fine vinaigrette is embellished with a scene of Abbotsford House in high relief. The sides of the box are encompassed with bands of chased scrolling leaf ornamenation. The underside of the box is ornamented with engine turned decoration incorporating a plain rectangular vacant cartouche. Both the base and cover are embellished with applied scrolling leaf decorated borders. The hinged silver vinaigrette cover allows access to the original hallmarked hinged, pierced decorated silver gilt grille. The vinaigrette retains the original gilding; this has worn with age in a sympathetic fashion to an aesthetically pleasing mellow color. This exceptional vinaigrette was crafted by the renowned silversmith Nathaniel Mills. A historical country house which was the former residence of renowned novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott, situated in the Scottish Borders. Condition This antique vinaigrette is an exceptional gauge of silver, exceptional quality and in exceptional presentation condition. The decoration is very sharp. Full hallmarks struck to the interior and part hallmarks to the underside of the grille are all very clear. Dimensions Length 3.8cm/1.5", width 2.6cm/1", height 1cm/0.4". Weight 0.8 troy ounce/26.3g. Maker: Nathanial Mills...

Finest antique English sterling hand pierced and engraved vinaigrette, hallmarked throughout, Birmingham, 1834-1835 and with Maker's Marks for possibly the finest British small box silversmith, NATHANIEL...

Fabulous and rare antique English hand pierced and engraved sterling vinaigrette Hallmarked throughout, Birmingham, 1838-1839. Please note except...

Victorian silver double-sided "Castle-Top" card case Windsor Castle and Abbotsford House. This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver card case has a rectangular form, both sides are chased with scrolls, leaves and flower heads above and below high relief panels depicting Windsor Castle and Abbotsford House. Hinged lid and moulded sides. * Abbotsford is the extraordinary home of the 19th century novelist and ‘Great Scott’ who popularised tartan, saved the Scottish banknote and rediscovered his country’s Crown Jewels. * Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, Founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, it has since been the home of 39 monarchs. Today The Queen spends most of her private weekends at the Castle. Maker: Nathaniel Mills...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique William IV English sterling silver castle top vinaigrette depicting Newstead Abbey; an addition to our collectable box collection. This exceptional antique William IV silver vinaigrette has a rectangular form with rounded corners. The cover of this fine Nathaniel Mills vinaigrette is embellished with a scene of Newstead Abbey in high relief. The sides and the underside of the box are ornamented with panels of engine turned decoration, accented with an impressive elongated applied thumb piece ornamented with leaf and bud designs. The decoration to the underside incorporates a rectangular vacant cartouche. Both the base and cover are embellished with applied moulded borders. The hinged silver vinaigrette cover allows access to the original hallmarked hinged, pierced decorated silver gilt grille. The vinaigrette retains the original gilding to the surface and interior. A former Augustinian priory which is known as the ancestral home of Lord Byron. This Abbey, situated in Nottinghamshire, is now publicly owned by the local Council and houses a museum displaying a tribute to Byron memorabilia. Condition This antique Nathaniel Mills vinaigrette is a superior gauge of silver, exceptional quality and in exceptional presentation condition. The decoration is very sharp and very crisp. The original gilding is in exceptional condition, in keeping with age. There is some discoloration to the interior of the grille, in keeping with age. Full hallmarks struck to the interior are all very clear; the nature of this piece dictates the location of the part hallmarks to the underside of the grille, resulting in the maker's mark and lion passant being partially visible. Reflections in photographs may detract from this fine example of antique silverware. Dimensions: Length 4.2 cm / 1.7" Width 2.7 cm / 1.1" Height 0.9 cm / 0.4" Weight 1 troy ounce / 30.2 g Maker: Nathanial Mills...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver card case made by Nathaniel Mills; an addition to our range of collectable silverware This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver card case has a rectangular shaped form. The surface of this collectable card case is embellished with fine and impressive chased and embossed scrolling leaf and floral decoration on a matte background. The anterior surface of the case incorporates the Scott Monument depicted in relief. The decoration to the reverse of the case incorporates a shaped, scroll bordered cartouche displaying the contemporary engraved initals 'MVFT'. The shaped sides of this piece are embellished with plain scrolling borders. This antique silver card case...

A fine quality late Georgian sterling silver vinaigrette of rectangular form with raised foliate borders and sides. The gold gilt interior with finely pierced foliate scroll grille. ...

Simply Exquisite! Vintage Georgian Heirloom Sterling Silver vinaigrette by Nathaniel Mills shaped rectangular form, the lid and base finely en...