Do you enjoy collecting Sterling Silver Boxes or Silver Boxes of any type?
If you do, you’ll find everything you need right here!
Are you thinking of starting a collection?
If you are, you’ll find a Facts Page for every type of box and a Free Collector’s Guide that will help you get the most from your collection.
Do you know the best way to care for your fine silver?
Read my Polishing Silver guide to find out. You may be surprised!
If you’re looking for boxes to buy, I have listings for Sterling Silver Boxes, Silver Vestas ( also called Vesta Cases or Matchsafes ), Silver Snuff Boxes, Silver Cigarette Cases, Silver Prayer Boxes, Silver Card Cases, Silver Needle Cases and Silver Vinaigrettes.
Sterling Silver Boxes are delightful treasures to collect, and have been sought after for hundreds of years by people from all walks of life.
Sterling Silver boxes come in every form imaginable: Lockets, Cigarette Cases, Prayer Boxes, Jewelry Boxes, Snuff Boxes, Vesta (Match) Cases, Vinaigrettes, Card Cases, Needle Cases, Funerary Boxes and more. Some defy categorization and simply exist for our pleasure.
Sliver boxes have been popular throughout the ages and many ancient and antique examples can be found in the collections of museums around the world.
Starting in the 1600’s and perhaps even before, silver boxes were produced in England. The late 1700’s through the late 1800’s were the prime years for these wonderful boxes.
English Sterling is always marked with a series of marks called Hallmarks. They consist of a makers mark-the person or firm who made the item, the date letter-this allows you to find the year the piece was made, the town or city mark- such as Birmingham, Chester or London- that lets you know the area of manufacture, the lion passant or sideways lion-which is the sterling silver guaranty mark, and sometimes, on older pieces, the head of the current Sovereign, Queen Victoria, George the Third and the like.
Refer to my Hallmark Resources and you will be able to find everything you need to know about Hallmarks.
Scissor cases, thimble cases and even a case for a single cigar were among the items made. Vesta cases held matches safely, card cases for men and woman held the visiting card, an important social tool in Victorian times. Vinaigrettes-Tiny silver boxes with inner pierced lids that held a sponge soaked with aromatic vinegar to sniff when walking the old streets of England. Sewage was out in the open and often running down the gutters. A sniff from a vinaigrette, by man or woman, would provide a temporary respite from the aromas of the day!
Snuff boxes were made air tight to hold snuff, at one time so precious, snuff boxes with combination locks were produced! Many are superbly inlaid with enamels, gold and precious stones. Some members of royalty owned 30, 40, 50+ snuff boxes!
Silver has always been regarded as a precious metal and loved for its luster and brilliance. Silver comes in many forms.
Pure silver, also called “fine” silver is too soft for general use and is used primarily for its monetary value.
Sterling Silver is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. You will often see Sterling Silver marked with “925” which stands for the pure silver content of 92.5%.
True Sterling Silver is solid silver through and through. Do not be confused by pieces marked “Sterling Silver Plate.” Any time the word “plate” or “plated” appears, the piece is not solid silver. Many fine pieces are made in plate, you just need to be aware of what you are getting. Please refer to the Sterling Silver Facts page for more information on types of silver.