A silver rectangular metal compact case with a textured surface and an art deco motif on top, placed on an open vintage book with red pages, surrounded by antique-style props.

Vintage Birmingham Sterling Silver Powder Compact, Engine-Turned Crosshatch, Art Deco Geometric Cartouche, Hallmarked 1946, Inscribed Betty 12th Sept 1947

£390.00
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A silver rectangular metal compact case with a textured surface and an art deco motif on top, placed on an open vintage book with red pages, surrounded by antique-style props.
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  • A silver rectangular metal compact case with a textured surface and an art deco motif on top, placed on an open vintage book with red pages, surrounded by antique-style props.
  • A silver rectangular compact case with a ribbed texture and hinge closure, resting on the open pages of an antique book with red cloth and other vintage items in the background.
  • A silver rectangular compact case with a ribbed texture and hinge closure, open and resting on the open pages of an antique book with red cloth and other vintage items in the background.
  • Close-up of a silver textured metal cigarette case with an embossed Art Deco style building design and a hinged clasp, resting on a dark green textured surface.
  • Close-up of engraved text reading 'BETTY 12TH SEPT 1947' on a metallic surface with a warm coppery-brown tone.
  • Close-up of a metallic silver surface of a compact with a small lion stamped logo and a letter W marked near the center, next to a shiny silver clasp.
  • Vintage Birmingham Sterling Silver Powder Compact, Engine-Turned Crosshatch, Art Deco Geometric Cartouche, Hallmarked 1946, Inscribed Betty 12th Sept 1947
  • Vintage Birmingham Sterling Silver Powder Compact, Engine-Turned Crosshatch, Art Deco Geometric Cartouche, Hallmarked 1946, Inscribed Betty 12th Sept 1947
  • Close-up of the side edge of a silver metal object, showing engraved maker's marks and symbols on a blurred green and yellow background.
  • Vintage Birmingham Sterling Silver Powder Compact, Engine-Turned Crosshatch, Art Deco Geometric Cartouche, Hallmarked 1946, Inscribed Betty 12th Sept 1947
  • A silver rectangular metal compact case with a textured surface and an art deco motif on top, placed on an open vintage book with red pages, surrounded by antique-style props.
  • A silver rectangular compact case with a ribbed texture and hinge closure, resting on the open pages of an antique book with red cloth and other vintage items in the background.
  • A silver rectangular compact case with a ribbed texture and hinge closure, open and resting on the open pages of an antique book with red cloth and other vintage items in the background.
  • Close-up of a silver textured metal cigarette case with an embossed Art Deco style building design and a hinged clasp, resting on a dark green textured surface.
  • Close-up of engraved text reading 'BETTY 12TH SEPT 1947' on a metallic surface with a warm coppery-brown tone.
  • Close-up of a metallic silver surface of a compact with a small lion stamped logo and a letter W marked near the center, next to a shiny silver clasp.
  • Vintage Birmingham Sterling Silver Powder Compact, Engine-Turned Crosshatch, Art Deco Geometric Cartouche, Hallmarked 1946, Inscribed Betty 12th Sept 1947
  • Vintage Birmingham Sterling Silver Powder Compact, Engine-Turned Crosshatch, Art Deco Geometric Cartouche, Hallmarked 1946, Inscribed Betty 12th Sept 1947
  • Close-up of the side edge of a silver metal object, showing engraved maker's marks and symbols on a blurred green and yellow background.
  • Vintage Birmingham Sterling Silver Powder Compact, Engine-Turned Crosshatch, Art Deco Geometric Cartouche, Hallmarked 1946, Inscribed Betty 12th Sept 1947
Vintage Birmingham Sterling Silver Powder Compact, Engine-Turned Crosshatch, Art Deco Geometric Cartouche, Hallmarked 1946, Inscribed Betty 12th Sept 1947

Vintage Birmingham Sterling Silver Powder Compact, Engine-Turned Crosshatch, Art Deco Geometric Cartouche, Hallmarked 1946, Inscribed Betty 12th Sept 1947

£390.00
Taxes included. Shipping calculated at checkout.
Description

Betty. 12th September 1947.

Someone gave this to her. The war had been over for two years, Birmingham's silversmiths were back at their benches, and whoever chose this compact chose well: a full sterling silver case, hallmarked at the Birmingham Assay Office in 1946, with all-over diagonal crosshatch engine-turning and a bold stepped geometric cartouche at the centre, the Art Deco vocabulary still entirely in command a decade after its peak.

The cartouche is the most distinctive element, architectural stepped blocks forming a modernist composition in the same silver as the engine-turned ground, crisp and precise, the kind of detail that separates a considered piece from a plain one. The exterior of both faces is fully engine-turned, no bare surfaces, no shortcuts. Made in England is stamped to the spine edge.

Inside: a full square mirror, bright and clear with minor foxing to one small corner, and a plain polished silver powder well beneath. The inscription is cut to the interior base in clean block capitals: BETTY / 12TH SEPT 1947. The superscript TH is a small formal touch that tells you this was done properly, not an afterthought.

Hallmarked with the lion passant for sterling silver (925) and the Birmingham Assay Office anchor, with date letter W for 1946. The maker's mark is present to the interior rim.

The Particulars:

  • Metal: Sterling silver, 925, fully hallmarked
  • Assay Office: Birmingham, anchor mark present
  • Date letter: W, 1946
  • Marks: Lion passant, Birmingham anchor, date letter W, maker's mark to interior rim
  • Exterior: All-over fine diagonal crosshatch engine-turning, stepped Art Deco geometric cartouche to centre of both faces
  • Spine: Made in England stamped
  • Interior: Full square mirror with minor foxing to one corner, polished silver powder well
  • Inscription: BETTY / 12TH SEPT 1947, engraved to interior base in block capitals
  • Condition: Very good. Minor foxing to mirror corner. Please review all photos carefully before purchasing.

A silver object with a name and a date inside it, and no further explanation needed.

Arrives tucked inside its own treasure coffin and carefully wrapped as a vault relic, ready for gifting or keeping.

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