Description
A very fine quality antique English Victorian solid sterling silver large snuff box. Rectangular shaped box with serpentine edges. The top is beautifully decorated with bright cut hand chased foliate & swag decoration with a rectangular shaped cartouche in the centre with surrounding hand chased crisscross decoration. The crisscross decoration is continued around the sides, & the underside. Hinged lid on the top with acanthus leaf decoration thumb lift on the front to open a gilt lined interior. Fully hallmarked on both the body & lid. Lovely collectors item.
 
Assay Office
Birmingham
 
Date
1851
 
Maker
David Pettifer
England.
 
Weight
198.41 grams
 
Dimensions
94mm x 67mm x 25mm
 
Condition.
Excellent condition with light surface marks that are consistent with genuine age, use & polishing.
The vacant cartouche on the top was probably once monogrammed & I think it has been carefully polished out. Fortunately the box is made from a good gauge of silver, about 1mm thick so there is very little reduction in overall thickness of the cartouche.
The internal gilding has sadly suffered some significant loss from an over zealous polisher in the past. This loss can be viewed in the photographs above.