Burnell and Rowe

Description

This is a high quality late Victorian Glass and Sterling Silver Lucifer or Match Striker. The spherical glass body has a flat base and concentric ribs on which to strike vesta style matches. The central well for holding the matches is surrounded by a plain silver collar.

The lucifer was made by Saunders & Shepherd and assayed in Chester in 1898. Cornelius Saunders and Frank Shepherd began their partnership in London’s Holborn Circus district in 1878. This was a major centre for silversmiths, goldsmiths and jewellers for many years in the 19th and 20th centuries. The firm were both manufacturers and retailers, specialising in small silver items for personal or domestic use and registered marks in London, Birmingham, Chester and Sheffield. The company remained in business up until the late 1930s.

Condition is good, with just a couple of little nicks in the glass and a few tiny dings in the silver, all commensurate with its use as a match striker. Please make sure to view all the photographs.

The lucifer is 6.1cm / 2.4ins in diameter and stands 5.2cm / 2ins high. It weighs 401.5g / 14.2oz.

The hallmarks on the silver collar are a little rubbed but still okay to read. They show the lion passant for Sterling Silver, the sword and three wheatsheaves assay mark for Chester, the date letter P for 1898 and the distinctive C S and F S either side of a star makers' mark for Cornelius Saunders and Frank Shepherd of Saunders & Shepherd.

Shipping in the UK is £6 by Royal Mail Tracked 24.
Overseas customers, please ask us about shipping costs to your country before making a purchase.