Antique Victorian Castle Top Sterling Silver Vinaigrette by Nathaniel Mills-1844

  

The emphasis is on quality. Our specialisation is English Silver Boxes. We will be honest about the condition of the pieces that are offered for sale.

As well as a general description of the piece, a separate condition report is provided here. We aim to win your trust. Snowball Antiques is a trading name of Customer Contacts Limited, London, England. Antique Victorian Castle Top Sterling Silver Vinaigrette by Nathaniel Mills-1844.

Was used by ladies in the late 18. They consist of a compartment which contained a sponge soaked in aromatic acid. The sponge was held by a grille.

When the vinaigrette was opened the aroma was said to greatly refresh and revive their owner. There are some who believe that their purpose was to deal with a tendency to fainting among refined ladies. However, their function was probably more practical. It was customary during the period to wear elaborate head dressing and clothing.

The cost and time involved was such that they were worn for several days. The aroma generated from the vinaigrette counteracted that from the body. This particular piece is as good as it gets. The cover has a view of the Scott Memorial, Edinburgh in relief. The base has an engine turned design and it is edged with raised borders.

Most importantly it bears the makers mark of Nathaniel Mills. It is 4cm long and weighs 0.9oz. It is worth saying from the outset that the condition of antiques are always described relative to their age. The item being reporting here is 112 years old. Antiques were used as everyday items and will have been cleaned hundreds of times throughout their life.

It is impossible not to have collected a few knocks and scratches. Indeed, they add to the character of the piece.

This piece is in excellent condition for its age. There is no sign of excessive wear. There is a very minor ding on one of the edges. The hinge is good and the lid closes tightly. It is particularly good internally with the gold having a fine patina.

The maker is the most sort after of English box makers - Nathaniel Mills. Registered his mark as a silversmith in 1803. His first venture was a partnership Mills and Langston.

He registered his own mark later. It was his son Nathaniel Mills Jnr. He was not afraid to adopt new techniques to the industry, including stamping, casting and engine turning.

His most famous pieces are snuff boxes and vinaigrettes. The piece is hallmarked on the lid with the Queens head Lion passant and Makers Mark NM. The body has the Birmingham anchor, the makers mak again date letter U for 1844. The item "Antique Victorian Castle Top Sterling Silver Vinaigrette by Nathaniel Mills-1844" is in sale since Saturday, January 25, 2020. This item is in the category "Antiques\Silver\Solid Silver\Vinaigrettes".

The seller is "snowballdel" and is located in London. This item can be shipped to United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Australia, United States, Bahrain, Canada, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, China, Israel, Hong Kong, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Bolivia, Barbados, Brunei darussalam, Cayman islands, Ecuador, Egypt, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, French guiana, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Macao, Monaco, Maldives, Martinique, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Paraguay, Reunion, Saudi arabia, South africa, United arab emirates, Ukraine, Bahamas, Colombia, Kuwait, Qatar, Uruguay, Viet nam.

1. Width: 2.6cm
2. Height: 0.9cm
3. Maker: Nathanial Mills
4. Date: 1844
5. Monarch: Victoria
6. Product: Vinaigrette
7. Age: 1800-1849
8. Pattern: Castle Top
9. Origin: Birmingham, England
10. Period: Antique
11. Weight: 0.9 Oz
12. Composition: Solid Silver
13. Length: 4.