A late Victorian quality engraved silver cigarette case, shaped…
click the photo to enlarge
A late Victorian quality engraved silver cigarette case, shaped for the hip, all-over repeating fine scroll engraving of Persian inspired form, gilded interior. Birmingham 1889 by Howard James, a noted case maker

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item

When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • Victorian Period - The Victorian period of furniture and decorative arts design covers the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901. There was not one dominant style of furniture in the Victorian period. Designers used and modified many historical styles such as Gothic, Tudor, Elizabethan, English Rococo, Neoclassical and others, although use of some styles, such as English Rococo and Gothic tended to dominate the furniture manufacture of the period.

    The Victorian period was preceded by the Regency and William IV periods, and followed by the Edwardian period, named for Edward VII (1841 ? 1910) who was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India for the brief period from 1901 until his death in 1910.
  • Gilding - Gilding is a method of ornamentation whereby a thin sheet of gold metal is applied to items made of wood, leather, ceramics, glass and silver for decorative purposes.

    For furniture including mirrors, the sheet of gold is usually applied over a coating of gesso. Gesso is a mixture of plaster of Paris and gypsum mixed with water and then applied to the carved wooden frames of mirrors and picture frames as a base for applying the gold leaf. After numerous coats of gesso have been applied, allowed to dry and then sanded a coat of "bole", a usually red coloured mixture of clay and glue is brushed on and allowed to dry, after which the gold leaf is applied. Over time parts of the gilding will rub off so the base colour can be seen. In water gilding, this was generally a blue colour, while in oil gilding, the under layer was often yellow. In Victorian times, gilders frequently used red as a pigment beneath the gold leaf.

    Metal was often gilded by a process known as fire gilding. Gold mixed with mercury was applied and heated, causing the mercury to evaporate, the long-term effect of which was to kill or disable the craftsman or woman from mercury poisoning. The pursuit of beauty has claimed many victims, not the least of which were the artists who made those pieces so highly sought after today.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

English hallmarked sterling silver Edward VII pocket notebook having etched floral detail to each side, a vacant cartouche, with a leather & ivory lined interior & a pencil. Chester, 1904, maker Stokes & Ireland Ltd. Dimensions 10.8 x 8 cm

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

English hallmarked sterling silver Edward VII calling card case having a rectangular body with hand-engraved stag, floral & scroll decoration, a vacant central cartouche, & a side-hinged lid. Birmingham, 1901, maker Crisford & Norris Ltd. Length 10 cm. Wei

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

English hallmarked sterling silver Victorian cigarette case having etched floral detail, a gilt wash interior & monogrammed 'Ach'. Birmingham, 1897, maker a & J Zimmerman Ltd. Condition good to fair, clasp slightly loose, age related wear, some tarnishing.

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A silver (unmarked) cigarette case with the coat of arms of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, the case entirely worked with decorative flowering tendrils on an overall punched ground. 8 x 8 cm

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.