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Toothpick Case

1780-1820 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In the 18th century silver filigree was widely used in Britain for small boxes of all kinds. They were usually made for a specific purpose, rather than as a general container as is often the case today, but it is often difficult to be sure what they originally contained.

This box was described as a needle case when it was acquired by the Museum, as part of the Jodrell collection, in 1890. Filigree needle cases are usually lined with sheet silver, to prevent the needles from falling out. The mirror inside the lid suggests that it might have been a patch box, but these also were more often made of solid silver, and were usually round. The most common use for shuttle-shaped cases, like this one, was as tooth-pick holders.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver filigree with mirror glass
Brief description
Shuttle-shaped silver filigree box with mirror in lid, Britain, 1780-1820.
Physical description
Shuttle-shaped silver filigree case with hinged lid and straight sides. The bottom part has an open filigree base and sides with a strip of sheet silver inserted on the top of the sides to allow the lid to close. The lid is made of open filigree on the top and sides, with a lining of sheet silver under the top. There is a mirror filing the inside of the lid. The hinge is made from short lengths of tightly coiled wire. The patterns on the top and bottom of the box, and on the sides of the top and bottom, differ.
Credit line
The Jodrell Collection
Summary
In the 18th century silver filigree was widely used in Britain for small boxes of all kinds. They were usually made for a specific purpose, rather than as a general container as is often the case today, but it is often difficult to be sure what they originally contained.

This box was described as a needle case when it was acquired by the Museum, as part of the Jodrell collection, in 1890. Filigree needle cases are usually lined with sheet silver, to prevent the needles from falling out. The mirror inside the lid suggests that it might have been a patch box, but these also were more often made of solid silver, and were usually round. The most common use for shuttle-shaped cases, like this one, was as tooth-pick holders.
Collection
Accession number
511-1890

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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