Antique C 1900 Victorian Solid Silver Vesta Case Pendant & Chain Signed Vintage

Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Case & Chain. Hallmarked for 1901 see full details below. This large handmade Victorian Vesta Case is an exceptional piece of Victorian craftsmanship. Meticulously constructed & ornately decorated it. Boasts a lustrous highly polished finish.

True antique silver has a lush rich mellow look that you do not see in modern day silver items. It is intricately carved on both sides in deep highly detailed carvings. The floral carvings indicate that it was made for a lady.

A magnificent set of initials is inscribed in the old world gothic style on one side. They read CH or HC. The vesta case has fine, smooth ribbed edge at the bottom inner edge which was used for striking the matches. There is a large ring on the side so the case can be hung on a chain. The close fitting lid at the top is spring loaded hinged and flips upward.

The vesta case hangs from a thick, vintage sterling silver rope chain which is unmarked but tests as sterling silver. The chain has a clasp but can be easily slipped over the head. It can also be used for other pendants or lockets. These days we use these gorgeous vesta cases to carry mementoes & wear them as ornate pendants. This vesta case makes a beautiful display piece for the home with other Victorian silver vanity items.

This is a very high quality vesta case made of solid silver. Vesta Cases are highly sought after by collectors of Fine Sterling Silver, Victorian Jewellery.

The vesta case was used to carry matches or other small items. Vesta cases were carried by almost everyone at the time. As they needed matches to light stoves, candles open fires etc.

The wealthy carried silver or gold vesta cases and the less well off carried tin or brass. They were also made of other materials and came in different shapes and sizes. They were carried in the pocket and or displayed. On a fob or watch chain. The Vesta Case is fully hallmarked on the inside lip of the bottom section as follows.

HM is the Maker's mark for Henry Mathews Anchor symbol for Birmingham Walking Lion /Lion Passant for Sterling Silver b - Date Letter for 1901. Established (registered mark) 1894 until around 1930. Known for his silver items & the great attention to detail displayed in his items including hat pins, hair brushes, cigarette cases, frames, card cases, vesta cases, buttons & other decorative and useful items. Width: 3.8 cm Depth: 8 mm.

Very substantial 43.1 grams. Length: 71.2 cm Width/ Thickness: 3 cm Weight: 14 grams. Take a look at my other Listings for more Antique Jewellery. Early Victorian jewellery was generally unmarked for Gold Content as it was not required by law to do so. Gold filled is the process of bonding or fusing a sheet of solid carat gold to a precious or semi-precious base metal such as sterling silver or brass by heat and pressure. The metal core provides strength and stability and these pieces were made to last a lifetime. Gold filled jewellery will not peel, fade or crack and looks exactly the same as solid gold. I photograph my jewellery in natural light with my camera on a macro setting.

Which gives a close-up view of the item. This will sometimes magnify tiny flaws not visible to the naked eye. Payments can be made by: Australia. Measurements are as accurate as possible.

Contact is always welcome before and after sale. The item "ANTIQUE C 1900 VICTORIAN SOLID SILVER VESTA CASE PENDANT & CHAIN SIGNED VINTAGE" is in sale since Monday, December 7, 2020.

This item is in the category "Jewellery & Watches\Vintage, Antique Jewellery". The seller is "vintagebitsandbling" and is located in Victoria. This item can be shipped to Australia, United States, United Kingdom.

Gender: Lady Ladies Woman Women Female Females Men Unisex
Modified Item: No
Original/Reproduction: Original
Authenticity: Genuine Original Antique Vintage
Christmas: Gift
England English: Birmingham
Main Colour: Silver
Jewellery Type: Vesta Case Chain Pendant Fob Charm Memento Holder
Metal Purity: 925 Solid Sterling Silver
Main Stone: No Stone
Metal: Sterling Silver
Brand: HM Henry Mathews Birmingham
Era: VICTORIAN ART NOUVEAU EDWARDIAN DECO