Sterling Silver Pocket Vinaigrette With Vermeil Interior, Birmingham, 1825 – Thomas Newbold

A charming sterling silver pocket snuffbox, fully hallmarked in Birmingham in 1825, bearing the silversmith’s mark of Thomas Newbold (TN).

Rectangular in shape with rounded corners, this small box features a finely hand-engraved design. The lid, which is particularly well-crafted, is adorned with a rich foliage motif, dotted backgrounds and a central cartouche left blank, the composition of which is reminiscent of the fastenings on ladies’ ball bags from the first quarter of the 19th century. This design, inspired by the women’s fashion accessories of the period, links this piece to a type of vinaigrette known among English-speaking collectors as a ‘handbag vinaigrette’ or ‘purse vinaigrette’.

The interior is entirely gilded to protect the silver from the perfumed substances the box was intended to contain. It retains its original grille, also gilded, engraved with a design combining plant and geometric motifs, the perforations of which are harmoniously integrated into the composition.

Vinegar bottles enjoyed great popularity in England, particularly during the 19th century. They held a small sponge soaked in aromatic vinegar or perfume, which one would inhale to refresh oneself or prevent fainting spells. Both a practical object and a fashion accessory, they bear witness to the refinement of English silversmithing during the reign of George IV.
Thomas Newbold was one of Birmingham’s silversmiths specialising in high-quality small silverware. This vinaigrette is a fine example of his craftsmanship, both in the delicacy of its engraving and the quality of its workmanship.

Hallmarks:
- Inside the lid:
Revenue mark: Head of George IV
Silversmith’s mark: ‘TN’ cartouche (Thomas Newbold)
English silver hallmark: Passing lion
- On the base of the box:
Birmingham anchor hallmark
Silversmith’s mark: ‘TN’ cartouche (Thomas Newbold)
Date letter B for 1825

The piece also bears two French swan hallmarks (800/1000) on the left-hand side of the lid. In use from 1893 to 1970, these were affixed by the Precious Metals Guarantee Office to silverware originating from non-contracting countries.

Thanks to its definitive attribution to Thomas Newbold, its precise dating and its decoration inspired by ladies’ ball bags, this vinegar bottle is a fine example of English small silverwork from the George IV period.

Condition: In very good condition, with its original inner grille. Normal signs of wear, such as micro-scratches.
THE PHOTOS ARE PART OF THE DESCRPTION. Please contact me for further photos.

Period: 1825.

Signature: Silversmith’s mark: ‘TN’: Thomas Newbold (active from 1821 to 1827, mark registered in April 1820), a Birmingham silversmith known, amongst other things, for vinaigrettes, boxes, spectacle frames and folding cutlery.

Silver hallmarks: lion passant. Birmingham anchor. Letter ‘B’. George IV reign mark. Two swan hallmarks 800/1000 indicating its arrival in France.

Dimensions: Length 2.5 cm – Width: 2 cm – Height: 1 cm.
Weight: 6 g.

For information: the price indicated is without shipping.
For more paintings and objects, go to: aenigmattic.fr or on my instagram: @aenigmatticshopnice
If you sell curiosities, please write me.
For more pictures, please contact me.