Featured Little sterling piece

Was told this thing was to carry "spirits" around. Hard to believe. It might hold a shot of booze or so. It's about 1x3 inches. Plus, did it come with a tiny little funnel, cause the opening is really small?
Most of the silver I own, turns black with tarnish over time. This piece seems to have a nice patina. I only cleaned the bottom, to show the sterling mark. I kind of like it, may leave it that way, if it won't hurt it. All comments welcome.

 

Could it be a snuff bottle or for perfume?

 

Not a snuff bottle, perfume more likely. Perfume bottles sometimes come with a funnel.

 

Does it smell like anything inside?

 

Hi,
i have a lot of silver from 200 yrs ago to modern. All of my older silver does not seem to tarnish. It is kept in the same glassed in cabinet. The newer stuff from the 1940s tarnishes very quickly. Anyone have a reasonable explanation????
greg

 

As already suggested, its a perfume flask...

~Cheryl

 

Just old metal.

 

Never would have guessed. Did you wear it around your neck?

 

Not around your neck. It doesn't have a chatelaine chain, or two rings to put it on one. So you'd put it in your purse.

 

My only suggestion is the way the silver was manufactured...or the way it was worked.....I too have silver that goes dark, and other silver that holds it's shine for a long long time.

 

It depends on what metals the silver is alloyed with,usually it was just copper,but every refinery had it's own formula and some added zinc or nickle,or a mystery metal.

 

What is the monogram on the end? Did you get it to keep or to sell?

 

good eye....

 

The monogram is my grandmothers. I received it as part of her estate. It will probably end up with one of my daughters, or may sell eventually if they aren't interested.

 

Somehow I have a feeling this won't be making it onto the market. It's a pretty little thing you can sit in a shadowbox or something similar.

 

If daughters not interested, sell them!

 

Thanks. Hopefully one of the girls will love to have it.

 

hello dcfirebottle....just a hint to avoid tarnish......clean it...try and find a non abrasive polish, a foam type if possible, use toothbrush for repousse decoration.....preferably not your own brush, or another product from the US... "'NEVR DULL"" try your local autochief or similar store , and if displayed in a closed cabinet place a small block of camphor in also.....no tarnish for years regards .....pewter2 your item does appear to be a perfume bottle and should/ may have a small glass stopper under lid when removed

 

Seldom bother anymore with explaining the difference between patina and tarnish on silver, because it seems to have become popular to leave it 'untouched', but eventually tarnish will damage silver, and really, silver items were designed, created and sold to show the lovely glow of the white metal.

Would not recommend Nevr-Dull, nor Tarn-X or the 'aluminum pan/washing soda' method - the first link below is to silversmith/restorer/conservator Jeff Herman's page on silver care, the second link to warnings and ratings of silver care products. (And personally, moth balls literally make me ill their toxicity is an issue.)

http://www.hermansilver.com/care.htm

http://www.hermansilver.com/silver-polish-abrasion-ratings.htm

~Cheryl

 

Oops. Put a post meant for a different silver piece. As Emily Litella would say, Never mind.