About this lot
Description
A rare Victorian silver 'Castle Top' card case by Nathaniel Mills, Birmingham, date letter indistinct, possibly 1844, of rectangular form, the surface decorated with chased and embossed scrolling leaf and floral decoration to a matt background, the centre a high relief repoussé depiction of Robert Burns' monument in Alloway, Scotland, with Alloway Kirk and Burns' cottage in the background and the Brig O' Doon in the foreground, the heavily decorated reverse around a monogrammed cartouche, 2.4ozt 10 x 7cm (4 x 3in)
Nathaniel Mills senior registered his mark in 1803 as one part of the partnership 'Mills and Langston'. In 1825 he left the partnership and concentrated on making silver items on his own, registering his now famous punch mark 'N.M' within a rectangle at the Birmingham Assay Office. Nathaniel Mills II was born in 1811 and worked for his father. Now famous for their high quality and well-constructed boxes, Mills contributed to the popularity of the so-called 'Castle-Top' silver visiting card cases engraved with British landmarks and sold as souvenirs to tourists and he became one of the most prolific Birmingham box makers at the time. They appealed to a public fascinated by novelty and became - and still are - highly collectible. Along with his brothers William and Thomas, he adopted new innovations and manufacturing techniques such as engine-turning, stamping and casting, and most of the items were made between 1840 and 1853. Nathaniel Mills died in 1873 a rich man, leaving £30,000 in his will and is buried in Warstone Lane Cemetery, in the heart of the Birmingham jewellery quarter. Calling cards were left behind by a visitor at the premises if the required person was not available. They served as both an introductory letter and a symbol of manners and social standing. The custom of leaving visiting cards lasted throughout the 19th century, however Castle Top silver was at the height of fashion between 1840 to 1860. This brief period of popularity makes these cases extremely collectible today. Most Castle Top silver is made by die stamping (pushing the metal out from behind using a stamp). The greater the decoration stands clear from the front of the cover, the harder it was to make, and these examples are highly sought after by collectors. Many scenes are quite common, such as Windsor castle, however the rarer the scene the more valuable the item. The record for a Castle Top card case stands at £9,800 which was for a very rare example of The Post Office, Dublin. The subject on this example is rare, and together with the unusually high relief makes this a particularly desirable piece.
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