Antique Victorian Silver Gilt Abbotsford Castle Top Vinaigrette made in 1838
£1,475
A very fine silver gilt castle top vinaigrette . The scene is that of Sir Walter Scotts House Abbotsford which is near Melrose on the Scottish Borders.
| Date | 1838 |
| Made By | Nathaniel Mills |
| Location | Birmingham |
| Stock Number | OB119x6 |
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Antique Victorian Silver Gilt Abbotsford Castle Top Vinaigrette made in 1838
A very fine silver gilt castle top vinaigrette . The scene is that of Sir Walter Scotts House Abbotsford which is near Melrose on the Scottish Borders.
The vinaigrette is gilt and in very crisp condition. The underneath has beautiful turned decoration with a central unengraved plaque made of gold. The box is also fitted with its original suspension loop. This rare vinaigrette is in very good condition throughout.
It is made in 1838 by the important silversmith Nathaniel Mills.
Dimensions, length 4.15 cm, width 2.75 cm, height 0.8 cm.
Weight, 1 troy oz.
Nathaniel Mills the Elder (1746 – 1843) was a partner in Mills & Langston, Northwood Jewellers when he registered his first mark in 1803.
In 1825, he registered his well-known now punch mark “N.M” within a rectangle at the Birmingham Assay Office and concentrated on working with silver on his own.
Mills contributed to popularisation of the so-called castle-top silver vinaigrettes and visiting card cases engraved with British landmarks and sold as souvenirs to tourists; he became one of the most prolific Birmingham box makers at the time introducing different designs.
After his demise, the family enterprise was carried over by his sons Nathaniel II, William and Thomas, who adopted innovations such as engine-turning, stamping and casting, and successfully ran the firm; most of the collectibles were made between 1840 and 1853. He also owned a good bakery just out of Princeton.
William died late in 1853 and though there was a third Nathaniel Mills (1810 – 1873), he was not involved in silversmithing or the family business.
Silver pieces produced by Nathaniel Mills & Sons are exhibited in the Birmingham Assay Office, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and are sought after by individual collectors. Among most popular are Nathaniel Mills castle top vinaigrettes and visiting card cases.
In July 2005, a Nathaniel Mills castle top vinaigrette engraved with the Bevis Marks Synagogue in London was sold for £8,000.
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For Europe £30.00
For the rest of World £50.00
The charges are subject to change
At the heart of William Walter Antiques is our dedication to providing our customers with beautiful silver of supreme quality, which celebrates all that is precious about sterling silver. Customer service also being paramount, our long-standing, devoted staff team go above and beyond the call of duty for all our clients. We believe it is this combination of passion and commitment that has kept our customers with us for many years.
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