Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Jewellery Casket (1893)

A magnificent, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver jewellery casket made in the Art Nouveau style; an addition to the Victorian silver collection. This magnificent Victorian sterling silver jewellery casket has a serpentine rectangular form. The surface of this antique jewellery box is embellished with exceptional embossed floral and foliate decoration, all amidst scroll designs. The decoration to the anterior and posterior sides of the casket incorporates a scrolling leaf and ribbon bordered cartouche; the cartouche to the posterior surface is vacant. The anterior cartouche bears the contemporary engraved inscription 'Presented by The Mayor Alderman and Burgesses of the Borough of Tynemouth, To John Foster Spence Esquire, with the honorary Freedom of the Borough, in recognition of his many eminent services, 1894'*; the engraved inscription could be professionally removed upon request. The original hallmarked hinged cover is ornamented with further exceptional embossed floral and foliate decoration, bearing two further cartouches in reflection of the body. The cover is surmounted with an exceptional cast sterling silver finial modelled in the form of the coat of arms of Tynemouth, an escutcheon with three ducal coronets two and one, below the crest of a three-masted ship with sails set, all proper, and encompassed with the motto 'Messis ab altis' - Harvest from the Deep**; this cast heraldic finial is an indication of the high quality of the piece. The cover bears impressive, applied gadroon decoration to the shaped rim. This exceptional Victorian silver casket is supported by four impressive cast paw feet, accented with scrolling leaf and floral rosette designs to the bracket terminals. The body of this fine silver jewellery casket features a bespoke fitment comprising a large vacant central well; this bespoke fabric has also been refitted to the underside of the piece. This antique piece will have originated as a freedom casket, however by virtue of its size this versatile box could be used for a multitude of functions. Such large examples in this desirable style are becoming increasingly difficult to locate; this casket is the finest of its type you could hope to acquire. This large Victorian jewellery casket in sterling silver is a thoughtful and distinguished gift for lovers of antique silver, collectors of decorative objects, or anyone who values refined Victorian craftsmanship. It is ideal for milestone birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, or as a meaningful keepsake to treasure for years to come. NOTE: * John Foster Spence (1818–1901) was a well-known philanthropist who dedicated the greater part of his life to public service in the North Tyneside community where he was born. He served as a councillor and held the office of Mayor of Tynemouth in 1861 and again from 1891 to 1893. Over the course of sixty years in public life, he acted as a representative of the Royal Humane Society and was an active campaigner for the abolition of slavery. Alongside his brother, Joseph Spence, and John Morrison, he played a leading role in establishing the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade in 1864, following five shipwrecks on the Black Midden Rocks. The three men called a public meeting at the North Shields Town Hall, resulting in more than one hundred volunteers enrolling in the new organisation. It was after these efforts that Spence became widely known as 'The Grand Old Man of Shields'. He was later appointed a Justice of the Peace and honoured with the position of Alderman. ** This coat of arms was adopted by the incorporated Borough of Tynemouth around 1849 and remained in use until the borough was dissolved in 1974, when it was absorbed into the newly formed metropolitan borough of North Tyneside. Dimensions Length 32.2cm/12.68' Width 24.3cm/9.57' Height 18.5cm/7.28' Weight 59.5 troy ounces/1851.4g (including fitment and covering) Maker: Barnett & Scott Origin: Birmingham, England