Penrose Antiques

Description

We have the pleasure of being able to offer this very attractive English silver ladies purse.

This lovely purse is of an oblong form and is engraved on both the back and the front with a lovely scrolled foliate design. The centre of the front of the purse also has a very nice ornate shield shaped vacant cartouche. The purse is completed by an attractive oblong link chain handle. Opening the purse reveals a very nice soft patent leather interior. The interior is in a remarkably good condition considering the age of the piece.

The front of the purse carries hallmarks for English silver for Birmingham 1918 and also rubbed but just about legible makers marks for the Birmingham Silversmith Joseph Gloster Ltd. The back also carries the English sterling silver mark (Lion. Joseph Gloster Ltd was a silversmith who manufactured a range of silver items including card cases, sugar casters, cigarette cases, condiment sets, flatware, mugs, napkin rings, purses, sovereign cases, tea & coffee services and vesta cases. The company remained in business right up until 1978.

The purse is in an excellent condition, the engraving is crisp the only dings I can find are really small, there are three or four small pinpricks towards the hinge and a minuscule one that can only be seen in the right light in the upper left hand quarter of the vacant Cartouche. The purse weighs approximately 2.7 Troy ounces and is approximately 3 & 3/4 (9.5cm) long.