Gold-Mounted Crocodile Tooth Vesta Box with Provenance

A gold-mounted crocodile tooth vesta box, 9ct the vesta box is formed from a large tooth, likely to have belonged to a Crocodilus Porosus, or a salt-water dwelling crocodile found in the river estuaries of Northern Australia. The tooth is gold-mounted (9ct) and features a ridged lid as a striking surface. The banding is engraved with 'Dr J.W.G. Powell', and the mount is engraved with 'From J.H. Press'. Impressed to the interior of the lid is the makers mark 'H&P', or horn & Peterson, established in the 1870s, Sydney., the Provenance: of the crocodile tooth is linked to Dr J.W.G. Powell, a Doctor who practised in the Herbert river District of outback Queensland as a medical Officer until his death in 1929. Local historians have speculated that Dr Powell May have been presented the tooth in relation to a crocodile attack on farm animals owned by a James press on 16 April 1913., Research into the history and Provenance: of the object was undertaken and presented by Kenneth Cavill to the silver Society of Australia Newsletter, June 2010., L.11 cm. Provenance: Ken Cavill collection