A Moment Of Bliss - Victorian English Dated 1853 Nathaniel Mills Sterling Silver Vinaigrette (VICA007)

A Moment Of Bliss - Victorian English Dated 1853 Nathaniel Mills Sterling Silver Vinaigrette. This exquisite vinaigrette is crafted from sterling silver. The wonderful antique features lovely detail, high quality craftsmanship, and full hallmarks of Queen Victoria, England, Birmingham, makers mark N.H. for Nathaniel Mills, and a letter date E for 1853.  This beautiful vinaigrette is of a rectangular form with crimped edges and engine turned engravings. The silver grill is profusely decorated with scrolls. The cartouche is blank, which can be left blank or engraved with an initial for a personal touch. Vinaigrettes were popular from the late 18th century through the mid-19th century, were small containers used for holding various aromatic substances, usually dissolved in vinegar. A tiny piece of sponge, soaked in the liquid, was contained beneath a grill or perforated cover. This is a beautiful Victorian example of something precious ,which was used from times past. Today they make a perfect pill or small momento box. 

History: History. Nathaniel Mills the Elder (1746–1843) was a partner in Mills & Langston, Northwood Jewellers when he registered his first mark in 1803. In 1825, he registered his well-known now punch mark 'N.M' within a rectangle at the Birmingham Assay Office and concentrated on working with silver on his own.

Silver Mining in History. The story of silver mining began about 5,000 years ago. Silver was first mined around 3,000 BCE in Anatolia, now located in modern-day Turkey. The precious metal helped early civilizations in the Near East, Ancient Greece to flourish.

The first legal definition of sterling silver appeared in 1275, when a statute of Edward I specified that 12 troy ounces of silver for coinage should contain 11 ounces 21⁄4 pennyweights of silver and 173⁄4 pennyweights of alloy, with 20 pennyweights to the troy ounce.

Measurements: Vinaigrette 36.00 mm x 26.50 mm 

Weight: 19.20 grams 

Condition: Very Good       

Origin: England, Birmingham        

Date: 1853