Lot 1047

Description

A Victorian sterling silver trompe l'oeil cigarette case in letter form, maker G.H. London, 1887. Rectangular case, letter form, with British 6d enamelled stamp and cancellation mark, 'London / Oct 1 / 87', addressed to 'Mr Joseph Waxman / 181 Swanston Street / Melbourne / Australia', reverse, blue enamelled monogram, cancellation mark 'Melbourne / Nov 7 / 87' (weight 181gms). Extremely fine and rare.

Ex Walter Pick Collection. Joseph Waxman, Manager 'National Loan Bank', 181 Swanston Street Melbourne, private residence, 111 Albert Street East Melbourne (Bell View House) (1888 Directory). The Waxman family were involved in finance and pawnbroking in Melbourne during the second half of the nineteenth century (see Gibney Smith - A Biographical Register 1788-1939, Canberra 1987). The silver case was almost certainly enamelled by John R.Rowland - Jeweller, 87-91 Collins Street East. He was a specialist in enamelling Champleve (a technique in which enamel is fused into the incised areas of a metal base) and exhibited and obtained an award in the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition.