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Description: Victorian Hallmarked 9ct Gold Seed Pearl Thimble. Set around the base with seed pearls

Marks: Hallmarked Chester 1898. Makers mark CH for Charles Horner. This also carries an inscription that says  RB to JS 1849-1899. Maybe she was a seamstresss and this was a reward given for long service

Size: Measures 20mm tall and 16mm diameter at base

Age: 1898

Weight: Weighs 6.3 grams 

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Code: COLG-10-7-

Price: £375.00

Description: Georgian Victorian Quartz Desk Seal with Rock Crystal handle and Smokey Quartz Swivel Fob  

Marks: Not Marked 

Size: Measures 3 3/8 inches long

Age: Estimate Early 19th Century

Weight: Weighs 73.5 grams 

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Code: DC

Price: Not for Sale

Marks: Marked 15ct on lorgnette and 9ct on chain.

Size: Measures 120mm long and eyeglass parts measure 105mm when fully extended. Chain measures 57 inches long

Age: Circa 1900

Weight: Lorgnette weighs 25.4 grams gross and chain weighs 7 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition.

Code: G

Status: For Sale

Price: £1250.00 

Description: Hallmarked 9ct Enamel Football Medal. Inscribed D I Leese May 7th 1937

Marks: Birmingham Hallmarked 9ct Gold

Size: Measures 40mm x 27mm including loop

Age: Inscription 1937

Weight: Weighs 7.7 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Code: NO-football

Price: £195.00

Description: Hallmarked 9ct Gold Unicorn Key Ring

Code: GSNS-G-Keyring

Marks: Hallmarked 9ct Gold 

Size: Unicorn Fob Measures 34mm x 19mm. Complete on chain measures 100mm long

Date: Late 20th Century

Weight: Weighs 15.6 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £395.00

 Description: Vintage Hallmarked 9ct Gold yard "O Led Pencil

Marks: Hallmarked 9ct Gold

Size: Measures 120mm long

Age: Mid 20th century

Weight: Weighs 23.2 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Code: COLS-goldyard

Price: £255.00

Description: Vintage 18ct Gold Sampson & Mordan Propelling Pencil

Marks: Marked 18ct S Mordan & Co 18ct

Size: Measures 2 1/2 inches long and 4 1/2 inches long fully extended

Age: Early 20th Century

Weight: 19.4 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £325.00

 Description: Vintage Hallmarked Silver Miniature Teaset On Tray - All With Matching hallmarks - Delightful miniature item

Marks: Hallmarked Birmingham 1961

Size: Tallest Coffee Hot water Pot measures 1 5/8" tall and smallest milk just measures 5/8" tall. Tray measures 5 3/4" x 1 1/2 inches

Age: 19

Weight: Weighs 61.8 grams complete. teapot 10.9 grams, Coffee Pot 11.9 grams, Milk Jug 2.8 grams, Sugar bowl 4.4 grams and Tray 31.8 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Code: COLS-Miniteaset

Price: £295.00

Description: Victorian Gold Mechanical Dual Pen Pencil. Tests as 9ct Gold

Marks: Not Marked. Tests as 9ct Gold

Size: Measures 3 1/2 inches long and 4 1/2 inches long fully extended

Age: Late 19th / Early 20th Century

Weight: 14.3 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £295.00

Description: Vintage Hallmarked Sterling Silver Enamel Miniature Travel Clock. Enamelled both sides of case with gilt clock interior

Marks: Hallmarked Birmingham Import hallmarks for 1929

Size: Measures 1 3/4 inches x 1 3/4 inches

Age: 1929

Weight: Weighs 66.2 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition.

Status: For Sale

Code: DS

Price: £325.00

Description: Edwardian Art Noveau Crocodile Skin Purse Wallet. This is a beautifully made crocodile skin purse wallet with tiny perfectly neat stitiching and Hallmarked Silver Corners.

Nicest example of its kind I have ever seen  

Code: Coll-12-11-1

Marks: Birmingham Import marks for 1905. Makers mark L.K  

Size: Measures 132mm x 90mm

Date: Early 20th Century

Weight: Weighs 105.6 grams complete - although silver weight is obviously considerably less

Condition: This is in remarkably good condition for age and type of item with only the very slightest signs of wear and use

Status: Sold

Price: £495.00

Description: Vintage Sterling Silver Perfume Funnel

Code: Coll-funnel

Marks: Not Marked - tests silver

Size: Measures 30mm x 22mm

Date: Not known - estimate early to mid 20th century

Weight: Weighs 3.3 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £85.00

Description: Vintage Hallmarked Sterling Silver Concorde Keyring - Item specifically made for concorde passengers. Original box and paperwork

Code: Coll-concordekey

Marks: Hallmarked Birmingham 1985

Size: Measures 95mm x 25mm

Date: 1985

Weight: Weighs 19.3 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £145.00

Description: Vintage Swedish 900 Silver Hallmarked Lipstick Holder.

Code: DS

Marks: Marked with Swedish Three Crowns hallmark and Letter S - Also marked 900 

Size: Measures 2 inches long and 5/8 inch wide

Date: Early to Mid 20th Century

Weight: Weighs 28.8 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £125.00

Description: I do not know where to start with describing this ring.  It has been the subject of research for some time. II think the first think I should say is that it is absolutely huge in size - so much so that I wonder whether it is actually a ring at all. It has been suggested that it might be an investiture piece to be worn on a chain or silk cord.

I believe this is a nineteenth century copy of a fifteenth century ring commonly called a papal ring. The purpose of the fifteenth century
originals is not clear, they may have been used as emblems of investiture or as credentials for nuncios carrying papal documents. They
are generally of low intrinsic value, made of copper or gilt bronze and set with glass or paste stones. They usually bear the arms of cardinals, archbishops or popes and symbols such as mitres, papal tiaras or crossed keys and are often very massive. References can be found in fifteenth century documents to rings fitting this description and a large number still survive. It seems unlikely that they were actually worn by popes, due to their low value and the fact that a number of examples bearing the arms of the same pope survive.

In the nineteenth century, this type of ring became popular amongst collectors although their provenance is as yet mysterious. The
nineteenth century copies differ from the originals in their extremely large size and the incorporation of small, often velvet lined containers in the bezel. They are generally decorated with Renaissance style ornament or papal heraldry, sometimes accurate but often fantastical. Their exact purpose is unknown, they would have been too large and heavy to have been worn as rings but might have served as desk ornaments. The Renaissance originals do not seem to have the small boxes in the bezel nor the cameo which your ring has. They also seem to have been smaller than the very massive 19th century type.

Examples of fifteenth century types can be found in the British Museum and the V&A. The Koch collection in Germany has both original and nineteenth century copies. Interesting parallels to this ring can be found in Chadour, Anna Beatriz,  Rings: the Alice and Louis Koch collection, W.S. Maney and Son Ltd, Leeds, 1994 volume II, catalogue
numbers 1635-7. 

Papal rings are a tricky subject which haven't yet been fully researched. Both the function and making of the
originals and their popularity in the 19th century need further work.

I believe it is an Ecclesiastical  Patriarch /  Bishops / Cardinals Ring.  The large size of such rings in the middle ages was intentional as they were made to wear over gloves and designed to be seen at huge distance by the crowds.

It is made from mixed metals. The main metal appears to be Iron (sticks to a magnet). The bezels surrounding the cameos are a yellow metal Brass ?? The ornate decoration tests as silver. There are two cameos and I am uncertain whether one is a replacement.

The seal top is iron and the central shield and cross  with five crescents are the arms of  the Piccolomini family. Surrounding the shield is the hat and tassels  symbols that represent the office of Ecclesiastical Patriarch / Bishop or Cardinal. The Piccolomini family have a well documented lineage which includes the successful nomination of two Popes. These were Pope Pius II (1458-1464  ) and Pope Pius III (1503-1503) . Both of these popes bore this family arms during their Papacy.

The seal top does open to reveal an inner compartment. This most likely held an icon or other item of religious significance There are traces of a pitch type substance on the interior compartment.  It is interesting to note that the right side edge of the seal device is narrower than the left side edge.

I can only suggest that the reason behind reproducing such a piece would lay in regional pride of those who admired the Pope for his adventurous life, dedication to art, architecture, and expansion of the Sienna region. This man brought importance and prosperity to the Sienna area that lasted decades.  Maybe a piece such as this was made to remember the man, his life, and work.

Marks: None

Size: The head measures 1 1/2 x 1 5/8 inches and standing on the seal part it stands 1 7/8 inches high. It measures english ring size R 1/2 or US size 9

Age: See above description. Is this a 15th century ring or a 19th century copy. 

Weight: 102.1 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £750.00

Description: Vintage Silver Embossed perfume bottle. Origins unknown but an unusual item

Code: Coll-perflady

Marks: Not Marked

Size: Measures 40mm x 25mm

Date: Not know - Estimate early to mid 20th Century

Weight: Weighs 14.5 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £140.00

Description: Vintage Hallmarked Silver Perfume Bottle

Marks: Hallmarked Birmingham 1907

Size: Measures 3 1/8 inches tall

Age: Early 20th Century

Weight: Weighs 51.2 grams 

Condition: Very Good Condition. Small dink to corner of lid

Status: For Sale

Code: Sperf

Price: £225.00

Description: Vintage Silver ballpoint Pen. Lovely decorative Pen. Origins unknown but looks French maybe 

Code: Coll-S-Penfancy

Marks: Not Marked 

Size: Measures 6 1/4 inches long

Date: Early to Mid 20th Century 

Weight: Weighs 11.1 grams gross weight with refil

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £125.00

Description: Vintage Indian Silver Perfume / Oils Bottle

Code: Coll-12-1-1

Marks: Not Marked 

Size: Measures 100mm tall and 55mm wide

Date: Estimate - Early 20th Century

Weight: Weighs 88.2 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £295.00

Description: Vintage Hallmarked Silver Berthold Muller Dragon Sleigh Shape Salt

Code: Coll-12-2-4

Marks: Marked with Hanau marks and also english import hallmarks London for 1895 & makers mark BM

Size: Measures 60mm x 30mm and stands 60mm tall

Date: 1895

Weight: Weighs 33.9 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £175.00

 Description: Vintage Hallmarked Silver large Size Presentation Key. Made for the Silver Jubilee

Marks: Hallmarked Birmingham 1977

Size: Measures 128mm x 43mm

Age: Early 20th Century

Weight: Weighs 48.7 grams 

Condition: Very Good Condition. A few little dinks here and there commesurate with age and use

Status: For Sale

Code: Col-11-2-1

Price: £149.00

Description: Georgian Hallmarked Silver Sugar Sifter Spoon

Code: Coll-S-Siftspoon

Marks: Hallmarked London 1817  

Size: Measures 6 1/4 inches long

Date: 1817

Weight: Weighs 39.5 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £145.00

Description: Vintage David Andersen Sterling Silver Cobalt Blue Enamel Dish

Marks: Marked with early DA prong mark and 925

Size: Measures 95mm diamater

Age: Circa 1910

Weight:: Weighs 93.1 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition. Small enamel loss on outer edge - can be seen in pic

Status: For Sale

Code: S

Price: £225.00

Description: Hallmarked Silver Chatelaine Purse

Code: Colpursemary

Marks: Hallmarked Birmingham 1915 

Size: Measures 135mm x 65mm including chains & ring

Date: 1915

Weight: Weighs 38.4 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £195.00

Description: Brand New Hallmarked Sterling Silver Bridal Wedding Bouquet Posy Holder. Engravable cartouche

Fine Metal: Available in Sterling Silver, 9ct Yellow Gold, 9ct Rose Gold, 9ct White Gold,

Marks: Birmingham Hallmarks

Size: Measures 8 inches long

Age: Brand New.

Weight: Sterling Silver weighs 51.5 grams, 9ct weighs 56.6 grams, 18ct weighs 76.2 grams

Condition: Mint New Condition

Status: For Sale

Code: Accposy

Price: Sterling Silver £195.00, 9ct Gold £1200.00

Description: Vintage Hallmarked Silver Unusual Wishbone Shape Sugar Nips

Code: Coll-S-12-6-1

Marks: Hallmarked Sheffield 

Size: Measures 90mm x 45mm

Date: Sheffield 1939

Weight: Weighs 14.8 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £125.00

Description: Vintage Silver Filigree & Cranberry Glass Tussie Mussie / Posy Holder / Nosegay

Marks: Marked Registered FFBM 9-18

Size: Measures 85mm long and 40mm wide

Age: 1918

Weight: Weighs 39.7 grams 

Condition: Very Good Condition but glass is broken where the pin passes through the hole to hold the flowers. This cannot be seen from the exterior. It is only visible when you look down the inside of the interior

Status: Sold

Code: S

Price: £850.00

Description: Vintage 900 Silver Perfume Bottle - Maybe For Chatelaine

Marks: Marked 900 Makers mark AKP

Size: Measures 2 inches tall x 2 inches wide.

Age: Early 20th Century

Weight: Weighs 24.9 grams.

Condition: Very Good Condition.

Status: For Sale

Price: £245.00

Description: Vintage Pair Silver Seahorses

Marks: Mark under investigation 

Size: Measures 2 inches long each.

Age: Mark under investigation. Not known.

Weight: Weighs 28.1 grams and 26.7 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition.

Status: For Sale

Code: DS

Price: £35 each

Description: Vintage French Boxed Set White Metal Knife Rests in Bow Design. Original Silk Lined Box

Marks: Not Marked 

Size: Measures 3 inches long each

Age: Early 20th Century

Weight: Weighs 150.6 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Code: DS

Price: £95.00

Description: Vintage 800 Silver Patterned Hipflask

Marks: Marked 800

Size: Measures 4 3/4 inches tall and 3 inches wide. Base 1 inch depth

Age: Early 20th Century

Weight: 138.5 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Code: DS1435

Price: £165.00

Description: Vintage Sterling Silver Maurius Hammer Carpenters Pencil

Marks: Marked 830S and Marius Hammer Mark

Size: Measures 3 1/2 inches long

Age: Early 20th century

Weight: Weighs 11.5 grams (with pencil)

Condition: Very Good Condition.

Status: For Sale

Code: DS249

Price: £250.00

Description: Victorian Continental Silver Tea Strainer. Possibly French in Origin

Marks: Marked with tiny touchmarks of a five pointed star and insect - possibly a spider or crab.

Size: Measures 6 3/4 inches long

Age: Late 19th Century

Weight: 56.6 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition. 

Status: For Sale

Price: £155.00

Description: Sterling Silver Hip Flask With Indian Scenes.

Marks: Marked Sterling Silver

Size: Measures 5 1/4 x 3 1/2 inches wide

Age: Modern

Weight: 205.4 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £250.00

Description: Victorian Double Ended Perfume Bottle with Vinaigrette type grill one side  

Marks: Hallmarked 

Size: Measures 

Age: Late 19th Century

Weight: Weighs 

Condition: Very Good Condition. Glass Stopper MIssing

Status: For Sale

Code: DC

Price: £185.00

Description: Denmark Sterling Silver Enamel Boxed Set of Six Harlequin Colours Fruit Knives. These Have Silver handles and Stainless Steel Blades

Marks: Marked 925 ELA. Blades are marked Raadvad Stainless Denmark.

Size: Each Knive Measures 4 3/4 inches long

Age: Early 20th Century

Weight: Six knives in total weigh 86.4 grams

Condition: Excellent like new Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £195.00

Description: Denmark Sterling Silver Enamel Boxed Set of Six Harlequin Colours Forks.

Marks: Marked 925S ELA Sterling Denmark.

Size: Each Fork Measures 5 inches Long

Age: Early 20th Century

Weight: Six Forks In Total Weigh 80.4 Grams

Condition: Very Good Condition. Red & Green & Blue Forks Have Slight Enamel Repair.

Status: For Sale

Price: £175.00

Description: Antique Banded Agate Sardonyx Salt Dish

Marks: Not Marked

Size: Measures 50mm x 38mm x 12mm tall

Age: Late 19th Century

Weight: Weighs 14.3 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Code: Col: 11-11-1

Price: £95.00

Description: Victorian Ivory & Ebony Bridge / Card Pointer. Swivels to point to numbers 

Marks: Original paper label with Victorian date registration diamond

Size: Measures 40mm diamater

Age: Victorian

Weight: Weighs 19 grams 

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Code: C

Price: £295.00

Description: Vintage Set Of Six Sterling Silver Enamel Demi Tasse Spoons. Enamelled Both Sides Handles

Marks: Marked ELA Denmark Sterling

Size: Each Spoon Measures 3 3/4 inches long

Age: Early To Mid 20th Century

Weight: 6 Spoons weigh 55.7 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £175.00

Description: Victorian White Metal Edwardian Scottish Agate Button Hook Chatelaine in Original Box.

Code: Scot-11-12-6

Marks: Not Marked

Size: Measures 60mm long

Date: Late 19th / Early 20th Century

Weight: Weighs 3.3 grams

Condition: Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £125.00

Description: French Gilt Palais Royale Aide Memoire set with Mother of Pearl and Turquoise Cabs

Marks: Not Marked

Size: Measures 

Age: Circa 1820

Weight: Weighs

Condition: Very Good Condition but the silk lining shows some staining and there is somedetatchment of pages

Status: For Sale

Code: C

Price: £495.00

Description: Fabulous Little Red Enamel Miniature Frame With Inlayed Gilt Swags 

Marks: Not Marked 

Size: Measures 1 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches

Age: Estimate Early 20th Century

Weight: Weighs 14.6 grams 

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Code: DD

Price: £125.00

Description: Victorian Brass Photo Fan with Sepia Photographs and date registration number dating this to 1867. The photographs on this look rather oriental and this appears to be some type of circus or acrobatic troupe. I dont know for sure who they are but either they were a victorian circus or travelling show

Another possibility is  this :- In 1885 a promoter built a working Japanese village in England and populated it with a variety of Japanese artisans and entertainers:

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.1613 . It was a popular tourist attraction, and maybe this is a souvenir ?

The village was built later than the design registration date on the fan itself, which does not quite fit the theory.

If anyone can shed any light on who they are I would be interested to hear from you.

Marks: Date Registration Diamond for 1867 

Size: Measures 3 1/4 x 1 3/4 fully opened out

Age: Victorian 

Weight: Weighs 10.7 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Code: DS

Price: £150.00

Description: Vintage Miniature Seated Buddha Figure cast in Bronze 

Code: Coll-12-2-1

Marks: Not Marked 

Size: Measures 36mm x 20mm

Date: Not Known - Estimate Early to Mid 20th century

Weight: Weighs 18.4 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £99.00

Description: Vintage White Metal Sugar Tongs / Nips. These are Unmarked

Code: Coll-12-2-1

Marks: Not Marked 

Size: Measures 4 x 2 1/2 inches

Date: Not Known - Likley Mid 20th Century - These are copies of George III Sugar Tongs

Weight: Weighs 33.4 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Price: £95.00

Description: Vintage Filigree White Metal Silver Plated Evening Bag in Original Fitted Box

Marks: Not Marked

Size: Measures 4 1/4 x 3 inches

Age: Not known ?? Mid 20th Century

Weight: 132.8 grams

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: Sold

Price: £110.00

Description: Georgian Cut Steel Misers Purse Bag . Very similar examples of these can be seen at Wolverhamption Museum website.

These purses date to late 18th / early 19th century

Miser’s purses became popular in the late 1700s and were used by both sexes to hold money. Men carried them in their pockets, while women draped them over their hand or belt.

The miser’s purse was essentially a long fabric tube, with a slit in its mid-section. This opening could be accessed or closed off by sliding two rings back and forth.

It is thought that the name ‘miser’s purse’ stemmed from the fact that it was difficult to lose – or even remove – coins from the deep pockets.

Size: Measures 11 1/2 inches long

Age: Late 18th / Early 19th Century

Weight: Weighs 148 grams 

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Code: DC

Price: £295.00

Description: Georgian Cut Steel Misers Purse Bag  - Sticks to a magnet. Examples of very similar cut steel Misers purses can be seen at Wolverhampton Museum.

Miser’s purses became popular in the late 1700s and were used by both sexes to hold money. Men carried them in their pockets, while women draped them over their hand or belt.The miser’s purse was essentially a long fabric tube, with a slit in its mid-section. This opening could be accessed or closed off by sliding two rings back and forth.

It is thought that the name ‘miser’s purse’ stemmed from the fact that it was difficult to lose – or even remove – coins from the deep pockets.

Marks: Not Marked 

Size: Measures 13 inches long

Age: Late 18th/ Early 19th Century

Weight: Weighs 76.1 grams 

Condition: Very Good Condition

Status: For Sale

Code: DC

Price: £295.00

 If you wish to make a purchase please email debbie@jewelscollectingdust.com

Shipping Rates for both UK based and Overseas parcels are shown on the Home page