A sterling silver and striped engine turned box with a lemon gilt wash lining. This is a beautifully made box of the highest quality. It is very difficult to apply engine turning to pieces such as this and retain a detailed, even stripe pattern consistently throughout the lid and base. This is also an unusual size for a silver box. The 'normal' box shape is rectangle, and seen in a variety of sizes. This is another feature that makes this piece very attractive on the eye. The back left corner of the box has an untouched round cartouche for initials or a monogram that could be added. The box was made in London, England in 1904 during the Edwardian period, but there is very much an early nod to Art Deco geometry in its design and cleanliness of form. A real departure from the elaborate and ornate patterns and design of the Victorian period. The box was made by the luxury central London retailer Andrew Barrett & Sons. Along with the English legal assay mark, there is also the company's retailer stamp embossed on the base, as can be seen in the fourth image. An Irish born immigrant to England, he began as a brush and comb maker in 1846 setting up in London's Piccadilly. From here he went on to open a number of central London premises and expand greatly his product portfolio. Eventually his sons would join the company, 1899, and they would even being to sell luggage and campaign furniture as the age of travel began to dawn on the wealthy classes across Europe and America. This box represents a wonderful example of the quality and uniqueness of the products being sold at this time by one of Europe's finest manufacturers and retailers.
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