Vintage Silver and Plated Compact Set with Inscriptions

• Engine Turned - Engine turning is a decorative technique used on metal surfaces to create intricate curving or geometric pattern. The process involves cutting a series of lines into the surface of the metal using a rose engine or decoration lathe which rotates the metal as it cuts, allowing the operator to create a repeating pattern that covers the entire surface. The resulting surface has a shimmering, reflective quality that is often described as "engine turned." Where an engine turned item has been enamelled, the term used to describe the decoration is usually guilloche.
  
  Engine turning was originally developed to decorate metal objects such as firearms, scientific instruments, and other metal objects that required precise and elegant design.
• Sterling Silver - Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of another metal, usually copper. Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver, and is relatively soft and the addition of the very small amount of copper gives the metal enough strength and hardness to be worked into jewellery, decorative and household objects.
• Petit Point - Petit point embroidery is a type of needlework that is characterized by small, delicate stitches worked onto a fine canvas or mesh fabric. The stitches used in petit point embroidery are typically very small and precise, and are worked in diagonal rows to create a smooth, even surface.
  
  Petit point embroidery is often used to create intricate designs and patterns, such as floral motifs, landscapes, and portraits. The embroidery can be done in a variety of colours and can be quite detailed and realistic.
  
  The technique of petit point embroidery has been used for centuries in various forms of decorative art, including tapestries, cushions, and clothing. It was particularly popular in the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe, where it was used to create elaborate wall hangings and furniture coverings.
  
  Petit point embroidery is still practiced by many artisans and is used to create a wide range of decorative items, including jewellery, handbags, and home decor. The technique requires patience and skill, as the small stitches can be time-consuming to work and require a steady hand.
• Cartouche - An ornamental panel in the form of of a shield, oval or rectangular scroll with curling edges. It may be carved into the back of a chair or the top of a sideboard, or present on a piece of silver or jewellery, and contain the initials of the original owner, heraldic symbols, or some other inscription, such as the details of a presentation.
  
  In ceramics the term defines the central area of a vase or similar with a decorative border in one of the shapes above, into which a decorative scene or figures have been painted.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• compacts - silver items 127