Victorian Sterling Silver Vesta Case, Joseph Gloster, Birmingham, 1896

  

This is an attractive late Victorian Sterling Silver Vesta Case. The vesta is oblong with rounded corners. Front and back have all over engraved ivy leaf decoration with a blank cartouche in the bottom left hand corner at the front. The vesta case was made in Birmingham by well known silversmith Joseph Gloster and dates to 1896. Joseph Gloster registered his first mark at the Birmingham assay office in 1888 and set up business at the Lion Silver Works.

The firm produced a very wide range of silverware and were quickly successful, becoming Joseph Gloster Ltd in 1901. They remained in business up until around 1980. Condition is very good, with no dings or dents and just the superficial surface wear that you would expect after over 125 years of use, particularly in an item that spends most of its life in a pocket or handbag. The hinge is in full working order and the lid snaps shut securely. Please make sure to view all the photographs as these form part of the description. The vesta case measures 5cm / 1.97ins by 3.3cm / 1.3ins and is 1cm / 0.39ins deep. It weighs in at 24.6g / 0.87oz of solid Sterling Silver. The hallmarks, on the inside rim of the case, are nice and clear to read. They show the lion passant for Sterling Silver, the anchor assay mark for Birmingham, the Gothic date letter w for 1896 and the J. G makers' mark for Joseph Gloster.