Boxes

Since antique times caskets have been used to keep important documents and jewels. In England silver boxes (and gold) in a various of shapes and sizes became popular in the seventeenth century. Small boxes, designed for many diverse uses – counters, snuff, vestas, tobacco, vinaigrettes, scent, nutmeg, toothpicks, toilet boxes. Larger boxes, made for specific storage requirements, including tea, sugar, biscuits, cigarettes and cigars. The jewellery box remains as popular today as it did in ancient times.

Boxes

Circa 1580

10187 Elizabeth I Antique Silver Bottle
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A fantastic little collector’s item. A rare 16^th century silver bottle, tiny size, probably for perfume oil or holy water. The detachable screw top contains a space inside for either a cork or dip stick. The body is finely engraved with hatched ornament typical of the mid to late 16^th century. Weight 20 grams. Height 6.5cm (to the top), 4.3cm (to top of body). Base measures 3.2cm x 2.2cm. English. Circa 1580. Unmarked silver.
Circa 1600 - 1620

10349 17th Century Antique Silver Pomander
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An intriguing piece of history contained in a small silver sphere. The antique silver pomander was worn round the neck or suspended from a belt and was intended to protect the wearer from sickness. The exterior of this example is hand engraved with royal portraits, probably English, based on engravings by Simon de Passe (c. 1595 – 6 May 1647). The screw top unturns to release six hollow, hinged segments to contain dried flowers, spices and scented oils. The interior is decorated with scroll and hatched engraving. A similar example formed part of the prestigious David Little collection. Weight 22 grams, less than 1 troy ounce. Height 3.9cm. Spread 5.6cm fully extended. Unmarked silver. Probably English. Circa 1600-20.
Circa 1635
Simon and Willem De Passe
9993 Charles I Antique Silver Box
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A charming piece of early silver. An antique silver counter box of cylindrical form, the openwork sides pierced with fanciful birds and scrolling foliage. The cover has a bust portrait of Charles I, the base has a bust portrait of Henrietta Maria. This box has no counters.
Circa 1660

9471 Antique Dutch Silver Marriage Casket
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A rare 17th century silver wedding box “knottekistje” with a domed and hinged cover and swing handle. The pierced body has scrolling foliage, flowers and birds. Weight 268 grams, 8.6 troy ounces. Height 8.1cm. Length 10.2cm. Depth 6.3cm. Stamped underneath with the flower mark. Circa 1660. Maker unidentified.
1669 - 1673
Johann Balthasar Sedletzky
9068 Antique German Silver Casket
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A rare early Augsburg silver box of octagonal form with hinged lid and key. The silver is very thin gauge which is typical of early German silver and is heavily embossed with fruit and ribbon design. The base plate still has the original fasteners. Weight 266 grams, 8.5 troy ounces. Height 7.3 cms. Base 16.5 x 13.5 cms. Stamped on the edges and underneath with German silver marks for Augsburg. Makers mark IBS for Johann Balthasar Sedletzky. Circa 1669-73.
Circa 1671

8260 Antique Silver Snuff Mull
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A charming antique silver mounted horn snuff box having a rising lid with an elaborate silver strapwork hinge and a silver band around the top edge. Attractive waisted shape. Height 6 cms. Top measures 4 x 3.7 cms. Unmarked silver. Most probably Scottish. Underneath there is the incised date “1671” which is probably the original date.
1675
Isaac Dighton
9172 Charles II Antique Silver Boxes
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A very rare matching pair of early antique silver boxes of octagonal form, with pull off tops, dating from the reign of King Charles II. Sterling silver. Simple plain form with a large hand engraved crest within tied plumage, very typical of the date. Superb antique colour. At this date boxes of this type would have originally been part of an extensive toilet service. Total weight 239 grams, 7.6 troy oz. Height 3.5cm. Width of top 9cm. London 1675. Maker Isaac Dighton, London.
1675

9572 Antique Charles II Silver Boxes
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A very rare matching pair of early antique silver boxes of octagonal form, with pull off tops, dating from the reign of King Charles II. Good size and weight. Sterling silver. Simple plain form with a large hand engraved armorial within tied plumage feathers, very typical of the date. Superb antique colour. At this date boxes of this type would have originally been part of an extensive toilet service. Total weight 645 grams, 20.7 troy ounces. Height 6.3 cm. Width of top 12.7/13.5 cm. London 1675. Maker’s mark “B” – see Jackson’s page 133.
Circa 1680

9724 Antique Dutch Silver Marriage Box
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A 17^th century silver casket of traditional rectangular trunk form having a domed top with swing handle. The openwork cast body is smothered in flower heads and scrolling foliage. Bold flowers, including poppies, tulips and daffodils were very popular during the mid to late 17th century. The hand chasing is excellent. The body stands on four little ball and claw feet and has a front locking catch. Weight 159 grams, 5.1 troy ounces. Height 6.6cm (7.5cm with handle extended). Length 8.2cm. Depth 5cm. Stamped inside on the base twice with a maker’s mark (bird?) unidentified. Dutch. Circa 1680.
Circa 1680

9855 17th Century Continental Silver Pomander
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A fascinating piece of history contained in a small silver globe. This antique silver pomander of spherical form has all-over chased decoration of flowers & leaf-scrolls in low relief. The screw top unturns to release the six numbered, hinged segments with sliding covers, the interior with hand engraved flowers. The foot unscrews to reveal a secret hollow compartment. Weight 89 grams, 2.8 troy ounces. Height 6.5cm. Spread 9cm fully extended. The pomander is made of unmarked silver It is quite usual for a small article of this date to be unmarked. Probably Dutch. Circa 1680.
1688

8877 Antique James II Silver Tobacco Box
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A rare early English sterling silver box with lift off top. Simple oval shape and rope borders. This style was popular from the mid 17th century up until the reign of George I. The top has a large hand engraved coat of arms within a decorative cartouche. Weight 120 grams, 3.8 troy ounces. Length 9.2 cms. Width 7.4 cms. Height 2 cms. London 1688. Maker “RH” – see Jacksons page 143*.
Circa 1690
Elizabeth Haslewood
8255 Antique Norwich Silver Box
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A rare early antique silver snuff box from the provincial city of Norwich. Attractive rectangular octagonal form with hinged lid hand engraved with a scroll design and initials “JL”. Excellent silver patina. Original gilt interior with a deep colour. Weight 63 grams, 2 troy ounces. Height 1,1 cms. Top 7.25 x 5.25 cms. Marked inside the base with initials for the Norwich lady silversmith Elizabeth Haslewood. Makers mark only, circa 1690.
Circa 1690

9150 Antique Silver Chinoiserie Box
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A rare little early antique silver trinket box with a pull off lid and original gilt interior. The engraved decoration is very charming with Chinese figures, pagodas and garden scenes. Weight 141 cm, 4.5 troy ounces. Height 6 cm. Diameter 9.5 cm. Stamped underneath with a crown and 3 stars over the makers initials “LM”. European, possibly English, circa 1690.
Circa 1690
Mary Elliott
9630 William & Mary Antique Silver Nutmeg Grater
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A William and Mary teardrop shape silver nutmeg grater with steel rasp. With a hinged lid either side. One lid is engraved with a tulip flower, the other has no engraving. Weight 37 grams, 1.1 troy ounce. Height 2 cm. Top 4.2 x 3 cm. Spread across the hinge 4.5 cm. Stamped inside of the lids with makers mark only “ME” conjoined between pellets, bird above, cinquefoil below, in lozenge shaped widow’s shield. Probably Mary Elliott. Circa 1690. Mark references Jackson 1989 p.144.04, David Mitchell “Silversmiths in Elizabethan and Stuart London”
1690

9997 William & Mary Antique Silver Nutmeg Grater
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A charming little late 17^th century silver nutmeg grater of teardrop form, one side fitted with a serrated rasp. Each side has a hinged lid with stand-away hinge. Both covers are hand engraved with simple foliate decoration. Weight 29 grams, 0.9 troy ounce. Height 2.5 cm. Top 3.7 x 2.9 cm. Total spread across the covers 8.3cm. Unmarked silver. English. Circa 1690.
Circa 1690

10151 17th Century Antique Silver Counter Box
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A late 17th century silver counter box of typical cylindrical form with pull-off cover. The lines of hatched engraving resemble that on English silver nutmeg graters circa 1690 and there is a small comical face showing through the border on the lid. Weight 44 grams, 1.4 troy ounces. Height 4.3cm. Diameter 4,.2cm. Unmarked silver. Probably English. Circa 1690.
Circa 1690

10333 17th Century Antique Silver Nutmeg Grater
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An attractive little collector’s item. A silver nutmeg grater of cylindrical form, the tube containing a steel grater. The pull off lid is hand engraved with the Tudor rose and the tube has the hatched decoration typical for small silver objects dating back to the final quarter of the 1600’s. Silver weight 14g, about half a troy oz. Length 6.1cm. Diameter 2cm. Maker mark I.I. English circa 1690. Sterling silver.
1697
Joseph Ward
10402 William III Antique Silver Casket
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A substantial early English silver box of plain rectangular form, having canted corners and broad gadrooned banding. Very rare. Excellent size. The top has a large hand engraved cartouche containing a decorative cypher. Weight 1133g, 36.4 troy oz. Top measures 25cmx18.5cm. Height 8.5cm. London 1697. Maker Joseph Ward. Britannia standard silver, 95.8% pure.
Circa 1700

9593 Antique German Silver Box
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An antique continental silver box with detachable lid and standing on animal’s paw feet. The box has ribbed detail with gadroon and bead borders, the lid with shell and classical motifs. Weight 256 grams, 8.2 troy ounces. Height 9 cm. Top 13.2 x 9.5 cm. Stamped with German silver marks for Augsburg. Circa 1700.
1701 - 1799

8439 Early Continental Silver Bougie Box
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An unusual antique silver wax jack, or taper holder, with cut card work and flower decoration to the body. The wax coil would have been contained inside the drum shaped box. Weight 103 grams, 3.3 troy ounces. Height 8.5 cms. Width 7.5 cms (excluding handle). Diameter 7 cms. Marked on the front with an assay scrape, Nuremberg mark and makers mark. 18th century. German.
1702
Simon Pantin
3557 Queen Anne Silver Tea Caddies
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A rare pair of antique Britannia standard* silver tea containers of heavy rectangular design and having engraved armorials and lift off lids. Weight 21 troy ounces. Height 12 cms. Width 8.5 cms. Depth 5 cms. London 1702. By Simon Pantin.
1702
Richard Syng
7929 Antique Queen Anne Silver Boxes
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A very rare matching pair of early antique silver boxes of circular form, with pull off tops, dating from the reign of Queen Anne. Britannia standard silver*. With the typical ribbed decoration of the period and gadroon borders. Uninscribed. Total weight 845 grams, 27.1 troy ounces. Height 10.5 cms. Diameter 12 cms (top), 13.75 cms (base). London 1702. Maker Richard Syng, London.
1704
Thomas Parr
10352 Queen Anne Antique Silver Tea Caddy
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An extremely rare collector’s item dating to the early 1700’s. This unique little silver tea box of cube form has a hinged lid with octagonal finial. The hand applied matted work is very specific to the 1680-90 period. The small size is due to the rarity of tea at this early date. Weight 203g, 6.5 troy oz. Height 9cm (finial), 7cm. Top measures 6.3cm square. London 1704. Maker Thomas Parr I. Britannia standard silver.
1710
Richard Watts
9039 Antique Queen Anne Silver Tea Caddy
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A good quality early English silver caddy of plain rectangular design with canted corners. *Britannia standard silver. The lift off cap doubles as a tea measure. Hand engraved to one side with a crest, to the other there is a decorative monogram. Weight 118 grams, 3.7 troy ounces. Height 16.5 cms. Base 6.2 x 4.2 cms. London 1710. Maker Richard Watts. This box matches #9034 George III tea caddy.
1711
John Farnell
8751 Antique Queen Anne Silver Tea Caddy
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A good early English silver caddy of plain hexagonal design. With sliding top and lift off cap which doubles as a tea measure. Britannia standard silver*. Excellent patina and clear marks. To the base there are some hand engraved initials and the scratch weight. Weight 211 grams, 6.7 troy ounces. Height 13.5 cms. Base 8 x 6 cms. London 1711. Maker John Farnell.
Circa 1711
John Farnell
7574 Queen Anne Silver Tea Caddy
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A good early English silver caddy of plain rectangular design with canted corners. With sliding base and lift off cap which doubles as a tea measure. Britannia standard silver. Excellent patina and clear marks. Weight 195 grams, 6.2 troy ounces. Height 13.5 cms. Base 7 x 4 cms. London 1711. Maker John Farnell.
1714
John Farnell
6402 George I Silver Tea Caddy
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A good early English silver caddy of plain rectangular design with canted corners. With sliding base and lift off cap which doubles as a tea measure. Britannia standard silver*. Excellent patina and clear marks. Weight 192 grams, 6.1 troy ounces. Height 13 cms. Base 8 x 5 cms. London 1714. Maker John Farnell.
1714
John Farnell
6795 George I Silver Tea Caddy
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A good early English silver caddy of plain rectangular design with canted corners. With sliding top and lift off cap which doubles as a tea measure. Britannia standard silver*. Excellent patina and clear marks. Weight 179 grams, 5.7 troy ounces. Height 11.5 cms. Base 8 x 5.75 cms. London 1714. Maker John Furnell.
Circa 1714
John Swann
9803 Antique Silver Snuff Box
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A little period gem. A small rectangular silver snuff box with simple plain styling and gilded interior. Queen Anne or George I period. Weight 37 grams, 1.2 troy ounces. Top measures 5cm x 3.5cm. Stamped inside the base with a single makers mark “IS” with the distinctive swan for John Swann. London circa 1714. Britannia standard silver.
1718
John Farnell
10303 George I Antique Silver Tea Caddy
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A good early English silver caddy of plain rectangular design with the plain hexagonal design typical of the early 1700’s. The sliding top has a lift off cap which doubles as a tea measure. Weight 226 grams, 7.2 troy ounces. Height 12.6cm. Base 8.9 x 5.8cm. London 1718. Maker John Farnell. Britannia standard silver – purity 95.8%*. 18th century.
1720
John B Gibbs
8609 Pair of George I Silver Tea Caddies with Sliding Tops
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A rare pair of antique silver tea caddy boxes with sliding lids. Britannia standard silver*. The removable cap doubles up as a tea measure. Lovely plain hexagonal design and good gauge silver. Each sliding top caddy has a hand engraved armorial, within a decorative cartouche, engraved to the front. Engraved underneath are the original owner’s initials. Total weight 328 grams, 10.5 troy ounces. Height 12 cms. Base 9.2 x 5 cms. London 1720. Maker John Gibbons.
1723
Edward Gibbons
9133 George I Silver Tea Caddies with Sliding Tops
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A rare pair of antique sterling silver tea caddy boxes with sliding lids. The removable cap doubles up as a tea measure. Lovely plain hexagonal design and good gauge silver. Each sliding top caddy has a decorative cartouche hand engraved to the front. Total weight 390 grams, 12.5 troy ounces. Height 12 cms. Base 9 x 6 cms. London 1723. Maker Edward Gibbons.