About this lot

Description

maker's mark unreadable, marked with Minerva head guarantee mark for 800/1000 standard silver, and possibly also with boar's head guarantee mark, of rectangular form, the body decorated all over with repeating neillo decoration, the piano hinged cover featuring a quartet of singers, one playing the violin, gilded interior, 2.7ozt (Dimensions: H; 1.5cm W;7.5cm D;4cm)

(H; 1.5cm W;7.5cm D;4cm)

Footnote: Neillo is a black mixture, usually of sulphur, copper, silver, and lead, used as an inlay on engraved or etched metal, especially silver. It is added as a powder or paste, then fired until it melts and flows or is pushed into the engraved lines in the metal. It hardens and blackens when cool, and the niello on the flat surface is polished off to show the filled lines in black, contrasting with the polished metal (usually silver) around it.

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