Hi there, is anybody able to help me. I found this amongst my grandmas belongings. I have no clue weather its silver, where is was made or even how old ir could be…
The hallmark is clearly London, 1968 (so yes, it’s sterling). I can’t make out the maker’s mark, but I’ll keep staring at it.
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My best guess, judging from the very distinctive punch shape and the hallmark date, is that the maker’s / sponsor’s mark ought to be SJR for S J Rose & Son, but it is too damaged to be certain.
Phil
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Thankyou so much, its appreciated
Plain and with no inscription (?), looks in generally good order and with a (faux?) Shagreen leather base and a sandalwood interior Today these make excellent jewellery or trinket boxes sometimes with a felt or velvet interior finish added. Mind you in those parts of the world where smoking something other than nicotine have caught on that too provides a use.
Here’s another Rose cigaret box on sale:
And here’s another box by the same company which sold at auction:
Here’s a picture and a brief history of the very successful company until it wasn’t:
I am grateful to Phil’s eagle eye for marks and encyclopedic knowledge for sussing out the mark. The damage to the mark and your excellent but non-high resolution reproduction of it would have defeated me.
Granny, I take it has long since passed on. This company specialised but was not exclusive to tobacco-nalia.
There is always a story behind these boxes, and where it is not engraved that story becomes an integral part of the value’s item and should be documented and kept with it.
It looks as if there is a small dent to the lid edge. A silversmith can take this out for you but it will not alter its value enough to cover the labor cost.
The similar box on ebay suggests it is weighted. Usually they aren’t just lined and base materials added.
Christopher Wilson
GCI and Toronto.