1902 - 925 Silver Purse..

Got this today, paid £69.

Guy approached me on my market stall, was knowledgeable in antiques and fine things but not silver, asked me what I would pay. I assessed the item, weighed 110g, had obvious age (I thought it was 1880), and was assayed and stamped.

It had clear damage and a broken clasp... I should have paid 50p a gram now looking back, but offered 70p a gram... Total came to £75.... But when I go the £75 out he gave me £5 back and then gave me £1 and said 'here's a pound for good luck.... A nice touch indeed and one I will be continuing.

I was hoping to sell it on for maybe £100... But another silver dealer approached my stall who I know and I asked him what he thought, he said £100 if it was in working order... I thought £120 in working order.... This dealer looked at it and with his amazing skills told me it was 1902, due to the letter D mark.

I was told I could find a push button clasp "in a charity shop" on a cheap purse and just bodge it, but not sure this will pass.. ha..

I am now tempted to sell to another dealer (when I find one) for maybe £75 just to cover the pint of beer costs involved.

Thoughts on this piece? Value? Does it's unique historical value outweigh the slight damage to the rear and clasp?

 

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It is stunning. I have never seen anything like it before!

 

Yes I would love to know the story behind it, was this made for a special lady (who is on the cover)..

The gentleman told me on the market that his dad was given it by his own dad, so it has been in the family for the many generations. But dated to 1902...
This family is from Heptonstall, near Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, so back then there was more money in Yorkshire than anywhere else in the world. It was the centre (possibly declining centre) of the industrial revolution by 1902.

 

Only a wealthy lady would have owned such a thing.

 

My thoughts exactly! She was certainly not 'piss poor' was she.
I wonder who it was, there may be a well known painting of this lady or at least it be connected to a well known family. I didn't ask this guy too many questions, but he would certainly be up for them I am sure.

Would look great cleaned up and small dents beaten out but that is not my area... Would this add more value?

 

I would love to see the marks, but they are too dark. Can you post a better picture please?

 

You could probably press those dents out with your fingers. Just gentle pressure from the inside, rubbing a little as you go. Silver sheet is very soft.

 

It's a general Art Nouveau purse, I suspect the guy who sold it to you was a hawker, they have always been around antiques markets etc offloading stuff, I used to see them all them time years ago and when working with my dad back in the day. I would place a large bet that it was never in his family etc. The purse wasn't made for someone specific, depictions of glamourous period ladies were popular at the time. Here's another the same, there would had been many produced by the same silversmith in its time:

https://www.sellingantiques.co.uk/422174/antique-sterling-silver-art-nouveau-purse-1902/

If someone comes to your stall trying to sell stuff, especially if they lean on a family story be very sceptical, especially if they are old ladies!

In the condition as is you are not really going to get much more than melt, and fixing it would probably cost more than you would get back. So you haven't really lost anything at least. In good order in the UK you would get around £200 retail.

 

Looks like H.M to me???

 

Good points, and valid, but this guys is a local for many many years, having lived in the area for a long time, but could still be a hawker.. Was (or still is a nice story) ha... Like I said above, in hindsight I should have offered 50p a gram, with current melt value being 62p a gram.... Due to its damage... I was close but next time I won't be so damn soft! Those damn hawkers.. They need to be called 'Massagers' for softening us up!

To be fair, he didn't say it was made for a special lady, that was me.. ha.. He just said was in his family for a while.
I will try to sell for £75 to a dealer on the market or just someone who loves the item.

 

It's a good and cheap learning experience. Back in the 70's and 80's my dad used to do fairs and markets, saw him get taken a few times and the lesson always stuck with me. Funniest was a few marine cased aneroid barometers back when they were a hot ticket. He agreed the deal, the hawker bailed, then when he opened them up none had any mechanisms, they were just cases with hands glued to the dial.

It was always the butter wouldn't melt old ladies hawking stuff that were the worst though!

 

Damn, would have at least opened them up.

Yes I may still be able to sell for £6 proft here... I am doing a car boot tomorrow so will give it pride of place in my cabinet. If I could get that clasp fixed I could get £100 easy...

But now I just want to clear... Like I have been with all this lot below...

 

Nice one!

 

£221.99 (2012)

 

deduct a lot for condition..