About this lot

Description

Birmingham 1812, of rectangular form with turned corners and waisted sides, piano hinged friction fitting cover set with decorative agate, gilded interior, the underside with personal engraving, 5 x 4cm, 1.3ozt gross

Footnote: Matthew Linwood senior was a renowned silversmith, and his son, Matthew II, was a notable maker of silver boxes in his own right, becoming a guardian of Birmingham Assay Office in 1811. The engraving to the underside appears to have been applied at different times, with the flamboyant initials and date probably engraved at the time of purchase. The names engraved around the edge, in facsimile style, were applied much later and are of Lieutenant Loscombe Law Stable (1886-1914) of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, (brother of Sir Wintringham Norton Stable KC MC {1888-1977} and son of Daniel Wintringham Stable JP LLB {1856-1929}), his uncle, Russell Loscombe Stable (1866-1912) and his grandmother Katherine Barrett Stable (née Loscombe; sister-in-law to the artist George Jones RA and daughter of Major Wintringham Loscombe of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment {1823-1891}). This engraving can be dated to within 3 years. Loscombe Stable was promoted to Lieutenant in 1911. He was promoted to Captain in 1914, yet Loscombe's name is suffixed with 'Lieut', indicating that the engraving must have been applied between 1911 and 1914. Captain Stable was killed on the 26th October 1914 at the French Western front, just 5 days after his promotion.

Back to lot listings