Silver box

William Coffin Little silver box

 

Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it fast.
Hit upload photos in your thread. Always hit full size images. Got 1 for you, till you get the hang of it.

 

ok

 

Click full size for all.
You can go edit and just change it.

 

can you see a photo

 

Hi Kurtzeek! Glad you got the thread going.

Since you already have several pictures in the Gallery, you can use the "camera" icon in the reply box toolbar to "embed" those images in a reply to this thread.

I have some thoughts about your item, but let's get the pictures on here first.

 

ok

 

Thank so much , computers are not easy for me

 

You're getting the hang of it! We were all new once.

Now, first I have a question - what caused you to conclude that this box was made by Little? I saw the picture of some notes you made, but couldn't really follow it.

 

I'm thinking this might be a Dutch box. Sweet little thing. But Baker will know.

http://www.chineseargent.com/home/dutch-silver-

 

I was trying to hold off, but you are right, SiS.

http://www.925-1000.com/Fnetherlands_Date_Code.html

The Minerva helmet on the side and the lion on the bottom are the keys. The WL mark is for a Dutch maker, therefore. The little letter in its own punch can be checked against the date mark table in the link I provided - but it will be in the 1800's, not the date that Kurtzeek gave. EDIT - Letter may be the n for 1872.

It's always important to check out everything punched into a piece, before deciding on the country of origin. Yes, William Coffin Little (US) used a WL mark, but that would be the only mark on the item, the other marks have no place in the US scheme of things.

And, by the way, I suspect it is more likely to be a tea caddy than a trinket box.

 

The one thing I don't have a source for is the M on the helmet - which would be the assay location. Perhaps our resident Netherlander @Any Jewelry knows.

 

Thanks for all the help !

 

And we were very glad to provide that help, Kurtzeek!

 

The link above shows these assay letters but doesn't say if they're in the helmet.

Regional Assay Office identification letters

A - Amsterdam closed 1988
B - Utrecht closed 1986
C - The Hague ('s-Gravenhage) closed 1988
D - Rotterdam closed 1988
E - Groningen closed 1927
F - Leeuwarden closed 1984
G - Zwolle closed 1878
H - Arnhem closed 1970
I - Breda closed 1875
J - Joure opened 2002
K - Den Bosch ('s-Hertogenbosch) closed 1986
L - Middelburg closed 1889
M - Schoonhoven closed 1987
N - Maastricht, the letter M used 01-03-1842/11-01-1844, assay office closed in 1927
0 - Roermond closed 1868
P - Alkmaar closed 1924
Q - Roosendaal closed 1927
R - Gouda opened 1988

 

OP, always give the size. If it is about 5 inches high I go with tea caddy.

 

Yes they are in the helmet, and always at an angle, like this one. And it is the M for Schoonhoven, as you already discovered. The M was used from 1837-1984. They closed down most of the assay offices, which is a pain.
Schoonhoven is still our silver town, and it is where the present day training college for silversmiths is.
The right facing lion is for .833 silver, and Bakers, you're right, the N is the one for 1872.
Resident Netherlanders can be of use sometimes.