Mappin & Webb Silver Plate Ornate Casket

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Mappin & Webb Silver Plate Ornate Casket

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Author	Topic: Mappin & Webb Silver Plate Ornate Casket
collecting.dust Posts: 23 Registered: Feb 2005	posted 02-23-2007 01:39 PM [26-1361] Hello all I have been trying to research the mark on this casket - without much luck.The little initials in the diamond shape under the word Mappin are AB. I read somewhere M&W often marked the qualilty of the plate ? Does anyone have a reference for Mappin & Webb Marks ? It has been suggested that this might be an electroplate - So I am wondering where the original would be located - I have tried looking on a few museum sites. Does anyone recognise it ?? Its highly decorated. The scenes on the top seem to show Holy Wars ? Christian ? Crusades ? The other rather elaborate side decoration seems loosely of celtic ?? Carolingian ? The silk (it is definitely silk) lining is good on the lower interior of the box but pretty threadbare on the lid. Its a largish piece - 8 1/4 x 5 1/4 inches and stands 4 1/4 inches tall. Thanks In Advance for your help. Debbie IP: Logged
collecting.dust Posts: 23 Registered: Feb 2005	posted 02-23-2007 01:43 PM IP: Logged
collecting.dust Posts: 23 Registered: Feb 2005	posted 02-23-2007 02:38 PM Forgot pic of the mark IP: Logged
collecting.dust Posts: 23 Registered: Feb 2005	posted 02-23-2007 02:53 PM I noticed some sensitivity relating to reasons for folk asking questions ! I just wanted to add that although I am a dealer (jewellery mainly) this item belongs in my own collection. I am not planning on selling it. IP: Logged
collecting.dust Posts: 23 Registered: Feb 2005	posted 02-23-2007 03:22 PM Please forgive my lack of introduction as I am new here. I am english and live in the UK (not far from that infamous Birmingham jewellery quarter. My first love in collecting is antique jewellery although attending silver and jewellery auctions over the years has led me to become also interested and enthusiastic about silver. I especially like all the lovely little small items like snuff boxes, vinaigrettes etc. Add a little enamel to the mix and well - you have my direct and immediate attention ! LOL I do trade a little - which mainly finances my increasingly expensive collecting habit !! Its not often that I buy silver plate - but I was quite impressed by this piece. Thank you for looking Debbie IP: Logged
adelapt Posts: 418 Registered: May 2003	posted 02-23-2007 04:59 PM My first impression is that it is a Victorian period pastiche, electroplate rather than an electrotype. My reason for saying so is that the design appears to have had "everything thrown at it". It appears to be a highly decorative and well put together object, and a child of its time. I look forward to reading what others more knowedgeable have to say. IP: Logged
collecting.dust Posts: 23 Registered: Feb 2005	posted 02-23-2007 05:21 PM Thanks for your thoughts Alalept. I know Elkington are reknown for their electrotypes but not so sure about Mappin & Webb I should also add - that I have had much debate on what the scenes on this are actually representing - some of them are rather grusome - lots of death and fighting !!. The most likely suggestion seems to be that perhaps it represents scenes from the life of David ??? IP: Logged
Dale Posts: 2132 Registered: Nov 2002	posted 02-24-2007 12:58 AM Wonderful piece Debbie, thanks for sharing. Looking at it, my first guess is that this is Medieval and earlier calligraphy applied to silver. One trick of the Victorians was to take things from non-metallic traditions and express it in metal, particularly silverplate. Look up the Book of Kells for an idea of what this was drawn from. There are items of this type, but not many show up in the US. Given the intricacy of the dies used here, and the expense of producing them, my expectation would be that this came in a number of forms. The box for sure, but also maybe mirror backs, candle reflectors, hardware, plaques and so one. Individual bits would make for interesting buckles, shoe decorations and jewelry. A piece would be die stamped and cut for these purposes. The heart shaped medallion applied at the top would make a great belt buckle. And maxed up several sizes, would be a killer door hardware. My intuition tells me this can be found in brass, bronze, copper, pewter and electroplate. IP: Logged
FWG Posts: 845 Registered: Aug 2005	posted 02-24-2007 12:05 PM A fabulous box, in both senses of the word! It is wonderful, and a made-up thing -- in the sense that they took inspiration and a multitude of details from medieval art in several media to create a new piece with a medieval feel. The positioning of the two marks (the AB and the Mappin & Webb) makes me wonder if they might be maker and retailer; I found no mark like the AB in Mappin's book of plate-makers' marks, but that mark makes me think of French marks. Maybe the piece was made on the continent, and retailed by M&W? The design certainly resonates with British/Celtic design, but not exclusively so to my eye. I also like the tufted lining. Really quite a marvelous piece! IP: Logged
Kimo Posts: 1652 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 02-26-2007 05:53 PM A great example of Victorian-ism taking designs from previous styles and marrying them up into a whole that is just so over the top that it really works as a nice object. The Book of Kells sounds reasonable, but my first thought was that the designs may have been taken from casts of some medieval liturgical objects such as book covers. Or perhaps they are miniature representations of some carvings of wood or stone from some particular church or cathedral? IP: Logged
collecting.dust Posts: 23 Registered: Feb 2005	posted 03-08-2007 04:25 PM Just dropping by to thank you all for your help with this. What a marvelous forum this is - such a knowledgeable and enthusiastic folk. My sincere thanks Debbie IP: Logged

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