Antique 800 Silver Engraved Bark Pattern Vesta Case Locket / Pendant
Here I have a beautiful Victorian 800 silver vesta case / pendant. It was originally designed to be hung from a gentleman’s pocket watch chain, to hold matches to keep them safe and dry (the ridged bit on the base was for striking them), but today you can pop any little keepsake inside. It’s hand engraved all over the outside with an unusual bark-like design. It’s stamped 800 on the ring holding the bale and another hallmark on the rim of the lid (possibly the French boar stamp?) shown in the 2nd to last photo.
The main body of the vesta measures 4.3cm long, 2.8cm wide and 1.1cm deep. With the bale ring at the side, the total width is 3.8cm. Weighs 17.7 grams.
Condition: Very good uncleaned antique condition. The lid snaps shut fully and stays closed as it should; the steel plate inside which makes the lid snap has some surface rust but it still works fine and the steel striker at the base also has a little rust. There are a few small dings to the silver commensurate with its age but they’re mostly on one side and are quite well hidden by the engraving. Overall, it just has the usual marks and tarnish to the silver which you'd expect on an antique item.
Here I have a beautiful Victorian 800 silver vesta case / pendant. It was originally designed to be hung from a gentleman’s pocket watch chain, to hold matches to keep them safe and dry (the ridged bit on the base was for striking them), but today you can pop any little keepsake inside. It’s hand engraved all over the outside with an unusual bark-like design. It’s stamped 800 on the ring holding the bale and another hallmark on the rim of the lid (possibly the French boar stamp?) shown in the 2nd to last photo.
The main body of the vesta measures 4.3cm long, 2.8cm wide and 1.1cm deep. With the bale ring at the side, the total width is 3.8cm. Weighs 17.7 grams.
Condition: Very good uncleaned antique condition. The lid snaps shut fully and stays closed as it should; the steel plate inside which makes the lid snap has some surface rust but it still works fine and the steel striker at the base also has a little rust. There are a few small dings to the silver commensurate with its age but they’re mostly on one side and are quite well hidden by the engraving. Overall, it just has the usual marks and tarnish to the silver which you'd expect on an antique item.
Here I have a beautiful Victorian 800 silver vesta case / pendant. It was originally designed to be hung from a gentleman’s pocket watch chain, to hold matches to keep them safe and dry (the ridged bit on the base was for striking them), but today you can pop any little keepsake inside. It’s hand engraved all over the outside with an unusual bark-like design. It’s stamped 800 on the ring holding the bale and another hallmark on the rim of the lid (possibly the French boar stamp?) shown in the 2nd to last photo.
The main body of the vesta measures 4.3cm long, 2.8cm wide and 1.1cm deep. With the bale ring at the side, the total width is 3.8cm. Weighs 17.7 grams.
Condition: Very good uncleaned antique condition. The lid snaps shut fully and stays closed as it should; the steel plate inside which makes the lid snap has some surface rust but it still works fine and the steel striker at the base also has a little rust. There are a few small dings to the silver commensurate with its age but they’re mostly on one side and are quite well hidden by the engraving. Overall, it just has the usual marks and tarnish to the silver which you'd expect on an antique item.
