Silver! - But what is it?

[listerr]

Hello all. I dug this from an 1870s home site. Unfortunately, I think I busted it when I made the plug. The name is known [former resident] but the date is not her birth/death date, anniversary, or children's birthday. The family was quite wealthy for the time period. The particular part of the yard is really trashy [nails, bolts, glass, foil] but I've previously found a vintage broach nearby, as well as the 1903 IH in the photos.

Based on my research of the stamps, I know it's British sterling silver [lion] from London [uncrowned leopard] in 1874 [lower case "t" used by London in 1874] by Thomas Edward Tinworth [TET]. I also found that his mark was seen from 1873-1875 (registered Sep 1872) on "card case mount, frame, vesta." He described himself as a silver mounter. But I've looked through some examples of these items but I can't see how this piece would fit.

The two things I notice about it are the holes at each end inside the border design and that the entire piece is slotted. I thought part of a necklace of some kind, but I don't think the style would fit the time period. Then I thought a semi-circle frame of some kind due to the slot, but why are there holes? It also looks like this is the entire piece as the outer ends are rounded off.

Any help would be appreciated! It's driving me crazy!

 

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[DCMatt]

Coin purse frame?

 

[listerr]

Coin purse frame?

View attachment 1443890

Perhaps, though there is no place for the enclosures and I'd imagine that there would need to be more holes to hold the fabric in the slot. But I did find this photo of a hinged center of a coin purse:




But again, even if it's the frame for a divider, I'd expect more holes to secure the fabric.

 

[mk4125]

Hello all. I dug this from an 1870s home site. Unfortunately, I think I busted it when I made the plug. The name is known [former resident] but the date is not her birth/death date, anniversary, or children's birthday. The family was quite wealthy for the time period. The particular part of the yard is really trashy [nails, bolts, glass, foil] but I've previously found a vintage broach nearby, as well as the 1903 IH in the photos.

Based on my research of the stamps, I know it's British sterling silver [lion] from London [uncrowned leopard] in 1874 [lower case "t" used by London in 1874] by Thomas Edward Tinworth [TET]. I also found that his mark was seen from 1873-1875 (registered Sep 1872) on "card case mount, frame, vesta." He described himself as a silver mounter. But I've looked through some examples of these items but I can't see how this piece would fit.

The two things I notice about it are the holes at each end inside the border design and that the entire piece is slotted. I thought part of a necklace of some kind, but I don't think the style would fit the time period. Then I thought a semi-circle frame of some kind due to the slot, but why are there holes? It also looks like this is the entire piece as the outer ends are rounded off.

Any help would be appreciated! It's driving me crazy!

View attachment 1443883View attachment 1443884View attachment 1443885

I like it...whatever it is!

 

[DCMatt]

Part of a Silver picture frame. The date is day the photo was taken.

 

[DCMatt]

Here is one by Tinworth dated 1875:

View attachment 1443941

http://www.sellingantiques.co.uk/40...-framethomas-tinworth-1875leuchars-picadilly/

 

[plymouthian12]

Thinking it might have been worn around the neck like a gorget

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[relic lover]

Maybe it was once a circle. I'm thinking like some sort of picture frame pendant or cameo

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[Itsmine]

I was thinking along the lines of a brides basket, or a condiment/cruet set handle. Something like this... https://www.google.com/search?q=ant...o8PTAhUOyWMKHUNvBoIQ_AUICygC&biw=1137&bih=751

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Can it tell us exactly what is engraved on it? Im having a hard time reading it. All i can read is Jan 1875 or 1st Jan 1875.

 

[nsdq]

Eye glass fame. ?

 

[listerr]

It says "Harriett H Clarke 1st Jan [superscript y] 1875" Following that are the stamps/marks. I'm leaning toward a silver mount on some type of wallet or purse flap. Tinworth was a silver mounter, not a jewelry maker. Too big for the mount on an eyeglass imo. And the outer two edges are rounded off, not broken. So, I think it's the whole piece. I initially thought part of a frame, but the hinge pin holes would not line up correctly to make the other part of the frame no matter what shape. It's too thin for a handle and its slotted so something was threaded through. The woman was the wife of James H. Clarke, the early oil business partner of John D. Rockefeller [before Rockefeller really became Rockefeller]. I'm pretty bummed it's busted in half - whatever it is.

 

[relic lover]

I am starting to get the idea that it is silver trim off of some type of ladies vanity item. Top of a mirror or something else similar

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[relic lover]

This example is a bit closer to the correct shape sort of

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[listerr]

yes, relic lover, a vanity item looks like a candidate. It would need to be something personal with the engraving. But like I said, other than New Years, I cannot locate a typical event that matches the date [not her birth/death date, anniversary, or children's birth dates). It's a mystery I suppose.

 

[relic lover]

I am liking the purse flap idea as well

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[relic lover]

It could have been the day she received an award or was appointed to some sort of position. Possibilities are endless I guess

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