Description

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.

Literature: A knottekistje or wedding casket is a small Frisian money casket usually made of silver. Traditionally, a man’s promise of marriage to his future bride was formal when he presented her with a coin knotted into a costly cloth (knottedoek). This later became a textile bag and then in the seventeenth century a silver casket (knottekistje). The boxes are usually rectangular with a semicircular lid and stand on ball feet although they also occur in the form of round or hexagonal boxes.
They are often delicately engraved with symbolic scenes about love and marriage, sometimes accompanied by a proverb or motto.

Friesland is a province of the Netherlands located in the northern part of the country.

Very good condition with no damage. The hinge and catch both work well. Good patina.

No maker assigned

Customer satisfaction is our primary concern

All silverware on our website is checked thoroughly prior to offering it for sale and every product listing contains a condition report and details of the silver hallmarks.

All items offered on our website include:

• Free Shipping Worldwide
• Tracked and Insured
• 14 day no quibble money back guarantee
• We are accredited members of LAPADA and conform to their strict professional standards
• We dispatch 1-3 days after receiving cleared payments

More detailed information about deliveries, returns and how to pay is available in the Help section at the bottom of this page.