About this lot

Description

A Victorian silver pierced card case, mark of Nathaniel Mills, Birmingham 1837 (with William IV duty mark), of rectangular form, each side decorated all over with decorative pierced scrolls and foliage around a vacant abstract cartouche, piano hinged cover similarly decorated, 9.5 x 7cm, 2.5oztNathaniel 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 objets, they became one of the most prolific Birmingham box makers at the time. Their products appealed to a public fascinated by novelty and became - and still are - highly collectible. Most of their items were made between 1830 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 and into the early 20th century and at the time, card cases were extremely popular, allowing the owners to subtly display their wealth and good taste.

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