Boxes / Desk

1888
William Neal
8297 Victorian Gentleman's Combination Whistle Vesta
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A Victorian sterling silver gentleman’s vesta case, with a vertical ribbed decoration, having a hinged lid with striker to one end, and a whistle to the other end. Weight 30 grams, 1 troy ounce. Length 7 cms. Width 2.5 cms. Marked inside lid and on the body for Chester 1888. Maker William Neale.
Circa 1890

8615 Antique Gold and Nephrite Letter Opener
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A handsome jade nephrite paper knife with a decorative 15 carat gold (unmarked) mount. Excellent quality. Length 26 cms. Width 2.15 cms. Circa 1890. Probably French or Russian.
Circa 1890

9108 Russian Silver Casket
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A 19th century Russian (Georgia) silver filigree casket of rectangular form and raised on four scroll feet. The quality of the filigree work is exquisite. The hinged lid with domed centre has an applied flower to each corner and to the centre. There is a folding catch to the front and swing handles either side. Weight 234 grams, 7.5 troy oz. Length 13.5 cm. Width 8.5 cm. height 8.5 cm. Russian silver stamps for Tbilissi, Georgia 1882-1898. 84 zolotnik silver grade*. Maker’s mark KC (KS).
Circa 1890

9651 Antique Silver and Pearl Card Case
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A collector’s item. A fabulous Victorian visiting card case covered with iridescent mother of pearl tiles. The corners and central cartouche have engraved sterling silver mounts. Perfect to use for business cards. The front is engraved with butterflies and flowers. The push button opens the case to display a fan shaped interior (original blue satin and concertina fittings) with a separate slot for each card. Measures 11 x 7.6 cm. Height 1.5 cm. English. Circa 1890.
1890

9663 Victorian Silver and Enamel Vesta Case
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A good quality antique silver vesta case of rectangular form with flat hinged lid, the face enamelled in monochrome to resemble a calling card with the name ‘Charles H. Herbert’. The reverse uninscribed. Marked inside the flap “APPAY Palais Royal, Paris”. Weight 38 grams. Length 5.9cm. Width 3cm. Height 5cm. Similar to those made by Samson Mordan and James Fenton. English. Circa 1890. Unmarked silver.
1892

9736 Antique Silver and Enamel Box
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An Arts and Crafts style silver box with hinged lid and original wooden interior. The multi coloured enamel panel has 2 vignettes containing a man and lady in period costume. Weight (including wood and enamel) 303 grams, 9.7 troy ounces. Height 6 cm. Top 12 x 5.8cm. London 1892. Maker Johnson, Walker & Tolhurst Ltd (Walter Walker & Brownfield Tolhurst). Sterling silver.
1892
Francis Webb
9892 Antique Silver Pencil
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An antique silver propelling pencil, would have originally hung on a lady’s chatelaine or gentleman’s watch chain. Hexagonal shaped body with hand engraved decoration around the outside. The top is inset with a coloured stone. The central sliding band extends & retracts the internal pencil mechanism. Fully hallmarked on the side of the body. Length 3.9cm (closed), 5.3cm (extended). Birmingham 1892. Maker Francis Webb. Sterling silver.
1893

7677 Antique Russian Silver Troika Box
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A good quality antique silver cigarette case with niello decoration and original gilt interior. The top has a spirited picture of a 3 horse drawn troika. Weight 97 grams, 3.1 troy ounces. Top measures 9.5 x 5.6 cms. Marked inside top and bottom with Russian silver marks. Dated 1893.
1893
H. W. Ashford
8113 Antique Silver Dog Whistle
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A very charming novelty silver whistle modelled with the head of a dog, complete with a collar and a small chain loop. Small size. Weight less than 1 troy ounce. Length 4.25 cms. Sterling silver. Birmingham 1893. Maker HW Ashford.
1895
A & J Zimmerman Ltd
5143 Giant Sized Victorian Silver Cigar Box
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A rare, large sized sterling silver cigar box having a hinged lid and wooden interior. Lovely plain style. Length 23 cms. Width 14 cms. Height 14 cms. Birmingham 1895. Maker A & J Zimmerman Ltd.
1896
Lawrence Emanuel
8669 Antique Novelty Silver Vesta Case – Wild Boar
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A rare sterling silver vesta case in form of a wild boar and having a snap top hinged lid and original gilded interior. Weight 14 grams, half a troy ounce. Measures 5.3 x 2.5 cms. Birmingham 1896. Maker Lawrence Emanuel.
1897
Heath And Middleton
5486 Novelty Drum Biscuit Jar in Silver and Glass
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A highly unusual and very decorative novelty silver biscuit box in the shape of a drum, the lid having a drum stick as a handle. Sterling silver with a glass body. Height 12 cms. Diameter 12 cms. London 1897. Maker Heath and Middleton.
1898
Cornelius Saunders & Francis Shepherd
8348 Antique Miniature Silver Teapot Pepper
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A nice little silver pepper pot in the form of a Victorian teapot. Typical late 19th century shape with oval tapering sides and straight spout. Gilt inside. The lid pulls off to fill with pepper. Weight 28 grams, just under 1 troy ounce. Height 4 cms. Spread of handle to spout 7. 2 cms. Base 4.2 x 3.4 cms. Chester 1898. Maker Saunders & Shepherd.
1898
William Dunningham & Co Of Aberdeen
4612 Scottish Silver and Horn Vinaigrette
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A stunning antique sterling silver vinaigrette with a horn body and stone inset top. Diameter 2 cms. Spread 6 cms. WILLIAM DUNNINGHAM & CO OF ABERDEEN. 1898.
1899
William Comyns
8239 Antique Silver and Mother of Pearl Table Snuff Box
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An excellent quality antique sterling silver snuff box with a cast border decorated with flowers. Substantial size. The inset mother of pearl top has a deeply carved scene depicting a biblical scene. The interior of the box retains its original gilt finish. Height 2.8 cms. Length 8.2 cms. Width 6.2 cms. London 1899. Maker William Comyns.
1899

9309 Antique Silver Fish Snuff Box
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A rare Victorian novelty silver antique fish which opens into a box. The fish’s mouth also opens. Beautifully articulated. Naturalistic engraved detail and scales. Glass eyes. Weight 117 grams, 3.7 troy ounces. Length 14.5 cm. Width 6 cm. Stamped on the tail fin with continental silver marks and a London import mark for 1899.
1899
Robert Pringle
9548 Antique Silver Matchstriker
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A funky little collectible item. An antique silver match striker in the form of a boot. The container is fashioned in glass, the top strip has a rough finish so it can be used to strike a match, the rim has a sterling silver rim. Height 7cm. Spread 6.5cm. London 1899. Maker Robert Pringle & Sons.
1900
Cornelius Saunders & Francis Shepherd
8347 Antique Miniature Silver Childs Toy Horse Pepper
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A very rare example of a novelty silver pepper pot in the form of a child’s pull along toy. A very charming piece of collectors silver and fully functional. The pepperette is filled with pepper by removing the head. The pepper is poured from the chest of the horse. Even the wheels turn. The head and saddle are engraved with prick dots. Weight 21 grams. Height 5.2 cms. Length 4.2 cms. Chester 1900. Maker Saunders & Shepherd.
Circa 1900
Wang Hing
8901 Antique Chinese Silver Case
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Chinese Export silver. An excellent quality antique sterling silver cigarette case. The top is mounted with a full length dragon having a serpentine shaped body and breathing out fire. Beautiful workmanship. Hand beaten silver. Push button operation. Gilt interior. Engraved initials “CFU” to the top. Weight 226 grams, 7.2 troy ounces. Top measures 14×9 cms. With Chinese silver marks for Wang Hing, Circa 1900.
Circa 1900

8993 Antique Chinese Silver Cigar Case
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An unusual antique silver case for three cigars beautifully decorated with an embossed dragon in deep relief. Weight 114 grams, 3.6 troy ounces. Length 13 cms. Width 6.5 cms. Marked on the inside clip with Chinese silver stamps. Circa 1900.
Circa 1900

9311 Antique Silver Fish Snuff Box
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A rare Victorian novelty silver antique fish which opens into a box. The fish’s mouth also opens. Beautifully flexible and articulated body. Naturalistic engraved detail and scales. Glass eyes. Weight 57 grams, 1.8 troy ounces. Length 12.7 cm. Width 4 cm. Stamped inside the box with German silver marks, 800 grade, crown and moon. Circa 1900.
Circa 1900

8030 Georgian Silver Shell Snuff Box
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A highly collectible antique sterling silver and shell snuff box with a hinged lid. The silver top has a pretty hand engraved decoration and initials in old fashioned cursive script; in the centre there is a piece of shell inset within an oval cartouche. Height 3 cms. Top 6.5 x 3.5 cms. Unmarked silver. Circa 1800.
Circa 1900

10175 Antique Silver Fish Box
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A very attractive 19th century novelty silver fish with green glass eyes and articulated body. The fish opens into a box at the neck and has an unusual snap shut mechanism. Large size and graceful style with naturalistic engraved detail and scales. The bottom fins serve also as stand supports. Weight 274 grams, 8.8 troy ounces. Length 28cm. Foreign silver marks. Maker not known. Circa 1900.
1901
Cornelius Saunders & Francis Shepherd
8349 Antique Miniature Silver Coffee Pot Pepper
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A nice little silver pepper pot in the form of a Queen Anne side handled coffee pot. Typical circa 1700 design with oval tapering sides, straight spout, and turned wooden side handle. Gilt inside. The lid pulls off to fill with pepper. Weight 26 grams, just under 1 troy ounce. Height 7.5cm. Spread 6.3cm. Diameter of base 3cm. Chester 1901. Maker Saunders & Shepherd.
1901
Horton & Allday
8392 Antique Silver Throne Pin Cushion
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An unusual antique sterling silver pin cushion in the form of the Coronation Chair at Westminster Abbey in London. This was made in 1296 for King Edward I to enclose the famous Stone of Scone; the original is made of solid oak and stands on 4 gilt lions. Height 4 cms. Width 2.5 cms.Depth 1.25 cms. Birmingham 1901. Maker Horton & Allday. Sterling silver.
1906
John George Piddington
9671 Antique Silver Fish Snuff Box
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A rare Victorian novelty silver antique fish with 2 compartments. One is inside the head and is accessed when the mouth opens. The other is inside the body and is accessed when the head opens. Large size. Beautifully articulated. Naturalistic engraved detail and scales. Red glass eyes. The bottom fins serve also as stand supports. Weight 307 grams, 9.8 troy ounces. Length 20.6 cm. Width 6 cm. Stamped on head and the tail fin with continental silver marks and London import mark for 1906. Importer and retailer J.G.Piddington.
Circa 1910

7258 Silver and Erotica Enamel Cigarette Case
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A fine and impressive antique solid silver cigarette case with a superb figural scene to the front, in hand coloured enamel, of a seated monk and a pretty young woman. The reverse side has a stripy engine turned decoration. The case opens with a push operated catch and the inside has its original gilding and 2 retaining bands. Weight 106 grams, 3.3 troy ounces. Measures 8 x 6.5 cms. Marked on the inside edge with Austrian silver stamps “sterling silver” and 935. Circa 1910.
Circa 1910
Gebruder Dingeldein
9980 Antique Silver Fish
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An excellent quality novelty silver antique fish with red glass eyes. Beautifully articulated. The fish opens into a box at the neck, and the mouth opens into a second smaller box. Large size and graceful style with naturalistic engraved detail and scales. The bottom fins serve also as stand supports. Weight 262 grams, 8.4 troy ounces. Length 37.5cm. Continental silver marks for Hanau, Germany. Maker Gebruder Dingeldein. Circa 1910.
1912
Grey & Co
8213 Antique Silver Tortoise Bell
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A fine and realistic antique tortoise table bell modelled with a solid sterling silver shell and a body made from bronze effect steel. The underside holds a clockwork winding mechanism that sounds the bell when the head or the tail is pressed. Spread 17.5 cms. Height 6 cms. Shell measures 9.3 x 11.5 cms. Silver hallmarked on the shell for Chester 1912. Silver makers mark and stamped underneath for maker Grey & Co.
1912
William Edward Hurcomb
6188 Antique Novelty Silver Bell Modelled as a Pig
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Amazing quality. A rare antique sterling silver model pig which rings if you press his nose or curly tail. Heavy gauge silver, excellent modelling and fine chased detail make this a highly desirable item. Underneath the pig there is a key to wind the mechanism inside. Total weight including mechanism 644 grams, 20.7 troy ounces. Length 16.5 cms. Height 7.5 cms (top of tail). Hallmarked on all pieces for London 1912. Maker William Edward Hurcomb.
1914

5764 Silver Cigarette Box
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A handsome sterling silver box with plain styling, solid hinged lid and wooden interior.
London 1914.
1916
Asprey
8423 Vintage Silver and Gold Cigar Box by Asprey
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A large art deco sterling silver cigar box with engine turned decoration. Superb stylish design and unusual gold wire finish. Inside the box is lined with cedar wood. Height 8 cms. Base 26 x 16.5 cms. London 1916. Made by Asprey & Co.