Antique, Georgian / Regency chatelaine vinaigrette - smelling salts box. Sterling silver and gilt silver. Made in Birmingham, England, 1818-1819 by Joseph Taylor. Measures approx 1 1/4 inches accross the length and weighs 12.8grams. Made in the form of a bag with a silver chain for carrying it. The vinaigrette consists of 3 parts: bottom of the box, lid and a middle, performated section through which the smelling salts exuded their odour. OUtside, the sterling silver with finely pricked decoration, in the form of scrolling foliage, reverse pricked out with the background forming the pattern - superb quality. Fine rows of dots form the borders. Inside the lid, bottom and perforated plate are all richly gilded. The upper surface of the pierced middle section has a wonderful branch with leaves on either side and ending in a bud raised above a finely textured background. The back of the box, above the invisible hinge, is an oval, chased reserve, very finely engraved with the initials AM MW, beautifully depicted. Exquisite workmanship - the hinges are all but invisible from the outside and the join of lid to bottom is the finest possible. Superbly fine artistic decoration. Each section of the vinaigrette is hallmarked: the lid, inside has the King''s head, maker''s mark IT for Joseph Taylor and the lion passant for sterling silver. The performated section is marked with a maker''s mark, IT and lion. The bottom, inside, is marked with the anchor for Birmingham, IT and date letter U, which denotes 1818-1819. Very good condition Status: For Sale Reference#: 4228 Condition: good Year: 1818 Title: ANTIQUE GEORGIAN SILVER GILT VINAIGRETTE CHATELAINE BOX

Antique Silver
Antique Sterling Silver