Antique Edwardian Sterling Silver and Enamel Vesta Case

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Edwardian sterling silver and enamel vesta case; an addition to our enamal and silverware collection This exceptional and rare antique Edwardian sterling silver vesta case has a plain rectangular rounded form. The anterior surface is embellished with four desirable and impressive hot enamel panels depicting: a luxurious early-twentieth century car, three playing cards, a champagne bottle and a female portrait. The posterior surface of this antique vesta case is plain and unembellished. This unusual silver and enamel vesta case has a hinged hallmarked cover which incorporates a plain thumbpiece to the anterior edge and bears a ring loop attachment to the hinge. The underside of the case incorporates an integrated serrated panel/match striker. Condition This antique silver vesta...

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 Victorian 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 panels of undulating ornamentation. The underside of the box is ornamented with engine turned decoration incorporating a rectangular cartouche displaying the contemporary engraved inscription 'J.E to S.E, 17th April 1821'. 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 and original gilded interior. A historical country house which was the former residence of renowned novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott, situated in the Scottish Borders...

A stunning antique silver cigarette case in the classic Late Victorian style, dating from the late 19th to early 20th century (ca. 1890s...

Offered is a stunning Sheffield silver keepsake box dating to 1900, with associated hallmark. This small box includes a clean interior and rounded corners. The box is free of names or initials, but would have been used to house keepsakes such as jewelry or cufflinks. A well maintained, elegant piece, this antique silver box is an excellent addition to any silver collection. Trinket or keepsake boxes have taken on many forms since their first conception in ancient times. However their purpose remains the same; to store jewelry and other items precious to the owner. Originally, these boxes were used specifically for jewelry. These were in common use as early as 5000 BC in Ancient Egypt, when the majority of Egyptians, both male and female, wore jewelry. Boxes were used to keep these gemstone encrusted items safe. In Ancient Rome, jewelry was a status symbol. Rings and brooches were utilized to represent ones status in society. Again, boxes were needed for security and storage purposes. Finding early examples of these are quite rare. Victorian and Edwardian examples of trinket boxes are far more common. This is because owning jewellery was a luxury until the Victorian era- let alone possessing so much a box was needed to store it all. Fine jewelry and other items became available to the masses after the industrial revolution due to the reduction in production costs. This led to a demand for trinket boxes, which were much smaller than jewelry boxes and therefore better suited to the needs of the middle class who did not yet possess an abundance of jewelry. In Victorian households, collectables and other items of interested were also stashed inside these boxes. This is why they are known as trinket or keepsake boxes, rather than just jewelry boxes, although of course jewelry was also stored in them. Trinket boxes were produced in large numbers around this time. Many were lined with colored plush or velvet or rich wood. More elaborate designs had interior divisions and trays for rings and other pieces of jewellery. It was also common to see trinket boxes so small that they could only contain one item, such as a single ring. Ornate exteriors were created to reflect the value of the trinket boxes contents. The Edwardian era saw the introduction of new styles of trinket box. These included small circular or oblong boxes...