1836 Birmingham Sterling Silver Vinaigrette by Nathaniel Mills
William IV sterling silver vinaigrette, hallmarked Birmingham, 1836, N.M (Nathaniel Mills), of rectangular form, the hinged cover decorated with central monogram surrounded by bright cut decoration, surrounded by floral border, with reeded sides, opening to reveal a gilt wash interior with side hinged grate, total weight 22gm, length 1.38 in.
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- William Iv - William IV was King of the United Kingdom and King of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837, and in English furniture design it represented the brief period between the end of the Regency period, and the beginning of the Victorian period.
- Sterling Silver - Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of another metal, usually copper. Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver, and is relatively soft and the addition of the very small amount of copper gives the metal enough strength and hardness to be worked into jewellery, decorative and household objects.
- Bright Cut Decoration - Bright cut decoration is a technique used to decorate silver and other metal objects, such as jewellery and flatware, with intricate and detailed patterns. The technique involves using a small, sharp tool called a graver to carve designs into the surface of the metal. These designs are then polished, creating a bright, reflective surface that contrasts with the surrounding metal. The designs can be simple or complex, and can include geometric shapes, scrolling vines, and other decorative elements. The technique is highly skilled and requires a lot of precision, patience and attention to detail.
Bright cut decoration was widely used in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly in the silverware and jewellery industries. It was popular in the United States, Great Britain and Europe.
Today, bright cut decoration is still used by some craftsmen and artists, but it is considered a traditional technique and is not as widely used as it was in the past. However, the bright cut decoration on a silver object is still considered a sign of quality and craftsmanship and is highly prized by collectors of antique silver and other metal objects.
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