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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 Continental / International Silver
 Small silver box :violin shaped
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| Author | Topic: Small silver box :violin shaped |
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Marlou Posts: 3 |
posted 03-08-2005 08:10 AM
  
Hello! I am new here. I am a small Dutch collector of silver boxes, such as pill- or snuffboxes. A few days ago I made a new purchase: a silver box with a hinge in the shape of a violin. It's from Germany, but I would really like to know more about the period it was made and what the purpose for this kind of box was. So if you know more about this item, please let me know? Regards, IP: Logged |
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labarbedor Posts: 353 |
posted 03-08-2005 10:22 AM
Collecting “antique” silver boxes in the Netherlands is something like growing potatoes in a mine field. Your country is one of the main sources of reproduction silver items, especially small items. It is only rivaled by Germany and Austria during the 19th century. I can’t make out the marks, could you post a close up view or describe them? Having said that I have had about 10 of these violin boxes and seen many more, all were reproductions. As for what their use was: since they weren’t antique their use was probably just as display pieces or curios. If one found an 18th century one, I would guess it would be a table snuff box, as carrying one in your pocket would be difficult. I hope you have good luck with boxes the few 18th c. Dutch boxes I have had were quite nice. IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 03-08-2005 11:03 AM
In addition to holding snuff, two other uses of such small boxes at the time (I'm talking of the real ones of the 1600s and 1700s) were as patch boxes and as comfit boxes. Patch boxes held small patches made of silk or thin leather or velvet or that a person would glue to their face to cover up scars and pits in their skin that came from having small pox. Comfit boxes were used to hold small strongly scented sweets that they could pop in their mouth to cover up the really bad breath most people had at that time. IP: Logged |
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labarbedor Posts: 353 |
posted 03-08-2005 12:20 PM
I usually don't like giving names to items as it leads to misunderstandings. For example I describe a 12" ladle as a 12" ladle as it could be used for punch, soup, or hitting ones spouse. In this case however I would rule out a patch box. Patch boxes are usually very small more often than not under an inch long. All the violin boxes I have seen are bigger than that. IP: Logged |
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Marlou Posts: 3 |
posted 03-08-2005 01:41 PM
Thank you for the answers you've given me so far. The box is 3,5 inches long and has a gold washed interior. I have tried to enhance the photo of the (German) marks. On the left the 800 purity mark. In the middle a mark I cannot identify and on the right the crescent half moon. No crown present. Thanks! IP: Logged |
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labarbedor Posts: 353 |
posted 03-08-2005 04:29 PM
Sorry, my eyes just aren't that good. If the middle mark is a horse's head it is probably a pseudo mark. Is the Crescent moon the same as the one usually with a crown? In that case there just wasn't enough room for he whole mark. It could be late 19th century, but not earlier. IP: Logged |
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Marlou Posts: 3 |
posted 03-09-2005 08:03 AM
The middle mark is not a horses head, as far as I can see. I don't have much information on German hallmarks, but know that since 1884 the purity was expressed in numbers. Therefore I know it must be made later than that. Thanks for helping me! IP: Logged |
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