They say that Silver has a memory.....I wonder what tales this beautiful little piece could tell and if at the same time it could tell me if it's maker had been at the liquor cabinet at the time of it's creation??

It is very well hallmarked but it seems that the first hallmarks which read to be NM have been stamped upside down and are actually WN for William Neale or William Neale and sons of Chester. Had old Billy or one of his boys been having a sly grog and does that make this little Sterling Silver Vesta far more valuable than usual....a bit like the stamps that have flaws in the minting??

The other 3 hallmarks are the lion then a shield shaped hallmarks with 3 little things inside then an Italic capital B for 1902. These are all on the top rim then on the lid outside is 2 more hallmarks, this time just the lion and the Italic B.

I reckon this little one has seen a bit of action in it's day because it has a beautifully worn patina to it with a series of scratches on the plain part of the front.

The lid still closes nice and firmly on the spring and it has the little ring on top that would allow you to hang it from a chain.

A decent size measuring 5.2cm long (excluding top ring) x 4.3cm wide x 12mm deep.

I've added a small photo of hallmarks from William Neale of a 1903 piece that I lifted off a hallmark website just so you can see the W.N or N.M - in this case - in action....it's easily mistaken for the wrong mark....rather cute. This photo is from an item with the Italic capital C for 1903....as mentioned earlier, this 'drunken' vesta being sold is a B for the year 1902.

Always check the measurements folks...the pic's may make things look a little bigger than they are :)



THIS AUCTION IS FOR THE STERLING SILVER VESTA CASE as DESCRIBED ONLY....NOT ANY OF THE OTHERS ITEMS SHOWING IN THE PHOTO'S SOME OF WHICH YOU MAY FIND FOR SALE IN MY OTHER LISTINGS.

SEE SELLERS LISTINGS FOR MORE INTERESTING OLD TAT :0)