Silver Pill Box

I'd like to get more information about this pill box. What kind of semi-precious stones are in this? I'm guessing the rounds are lapis, the green is malachite and the top is ivory. Any idea of age? There is a personal engraving inside that references the birthdate of 1945. I found the following stamps: "SILVER", "800" and "MADE IN ITALY". Any information is appreciated. Thank you! ~Lisa

 

Very pretty!

The lozenge to the left of the word SILVER, should have letters and numbers inside that would identify the regional assay office and maker's number - in case you would like to know who made it.

 

Hi Lisa,
Oh my that is a gorgeous box. It is certainly one that I really covet. If you decide to sell it, please, please give me a "heads up". I do not think the top is ivory. At best it would be carved shell but looks like a poured resin. No matter what, it is a beautiful piece.
greg

 

THAT took my breath away!

I DO think it's an ivory center by the color striations... (photo isn't good enough to tell, do you have a micro setting to do a close up?). Can you stick a (very sharp) needle in it (inconspicuous spot near edge) so it stands? If you can, it's probably celluloid then.

Green stone is malachite. I'd take it to a jeweler to look at the blue stones but looks like Lapis (edit).
Similar ivory on Pinterest that is sold:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/189080884331085961/

MAN! LOL

 

NO NEEDLES!

Not resin, with the rest being silver and all. It may well be carved shell from Naples though, where there's a massive cameo and shell carving industry still. Malachite and lapis for sure.

I'm inclined to it being for stamps or perhaps snuff rather than pills but it matters not. Between the wars I suspect.

 

PS: From the inside of the box, shell.

 

Ownedbybear I do a needle test to tell if celluloid with a very sharp thin needle all the time, and have done no damage to my buttons or other items. I'm not saying shove it in, I'm saying see if it can barely penetrate to stand in the item, and you do it in an inconspicuous spot right next to the metal setting.

The inside of the box is wood grain, not shell. I've never seen any type of shell that has a looped grain like the top interior of the box. Looks like wood to me. I just figured out how to load a huge version of the pics. OwnedbyBear, check out the enlarged pic where you can see wood knots http://i.imgur.com/R8yXykp.jpg

After seeing the huge pics of this, I'd say it's molded celluloid/plastic. The center has a very low soft carving and not very fine detail. Like I said, the pic is hard to tell. Celluloid is a great imitator of ivory, called ivorine, ivoroid or french ivory and some other plastics.

Well, the interior engraving on your box is from 1945 (just saw that) it's not as old as I initially thought it could be. I did another hunt and it seems Compact collectors are well versed on these Italian silver boxes with stone or enamel from that era. Here is the page, see their April 4th post for the similar items.
http://collectingvintagecompacts.blogspot.com/2015/04/italian-enamelled-compacts-identifying.html

They still bring good money!

 

The engraving may be from 1945, but the box is vanishingly unlikely to be. Italy was a beaten battered shell of a country then, with little or no food, let alone the wherewithall to make lovely boxes like this.

I own Georgian silver with much later engraving: it's extremely common for older pieces to be personalised later.

 

Thank you everyone for your information!!! I am posting a few replies with pictures. First, Bakersgma, I did my best to get some pictures of the mark. It's very hard to read, even with a loop. My best guess is it has a 5, then a symbol, F and 1 or I. Not sure if that's even close. Here are the best pictures I can get of of the stamp.

 

Here are some better pictures of the front and the backside of the front.

 

Hi FBR,
Nearly everyone has given up the hot needle test or at least warned not to. Even though it MAY not ruin the piece. For people who do not know different types of resin/plastic a lot of nitrocellulose can and will burst into flames and burn people so please do not tell people to try it. It is a safety factor.
Thanks,
greg

 

I have been told by the recipient of the box, my mom, that it was a family piece given to her. So it could be a piece that was engraved at a later time. Not sure I will be able to figure out for sure. Maybe if I can determine the stamp I might be able to get a better idea of date.

Again, thank you for all the help!

 

Hey Greg, I didn't say HOT needle test... just an ultra sharp very thin sewing needle. LOL

I have an electric hot needle tool tester. It's used as a last resort to ID something and I haz skillz using it... *grin* Haven't touched it in years though... no need.

Well, the box is enameled... all of it. No stones at all. Carving is plastic. You can tell by the better pics. It's exactly what the link I gave for the compact blog said it was. Faux everything but the silver. STILL lovely.

 

The silver mark dates it to between 1934 and 1944 (by the symbol in the center.) FI = Firense. Let me see if silvercollection.it can help me figure out who _5 was.

 

Found it. LUCCHESI ROLANDO di Vittorio of Florence. The box dates between 1935, when the mark was registered and 1944 when the Fascist symbol in the centre of the lozenge was abolished.

Marks and company info are at: http://www.silvercollection.it/SILVERSMITHSFI1.html

A similar enameled box with same mark, same dolphin design by Rolando on auction is here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ITALIAN-SILVER-GILT-AND-BLONDE-FAUX-TORTOISE-SHELL-BOX-C1937-/300938907381

 

Very cool find, FBR. Without finding another use of the design, it would have been impossible to say which of the 2-digit numbers ending in 5 it might be!

 

Those faux stone enameled little boxes seem to sell regularly for around $125-250.00 on greedbay.

I have to wonder if it's missing some kind of plate on the inside cover though. The wood showing is kind of odd.

Such a pretty little thing that is!! Are you keeping it Lisa?

 

>LUCCHESI ROLANDO di Vittorio of Florence.<

Good find FBR! From editing and zooming in on those marks pic I thought probably 15, but couldn't prove it. Delighted you found a box by them.

--- Susan

 

Thanks! This forum and members are amazing. I really do appreciate all the help

FBR, I'm not sure if I will keep it. I will be checking with my brothers and make sure they don't want it. Although, as I mentioned in my other post, they tend to want NOTHING!