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Victorian Silver & Enamel Vesta Case - Beefeater, Tower of London
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Reference: S11068
Period: Victorian
Year: 1900
Silversmith: Charles Lyster & Son
Place: Chester
Price: $ 560.00
Weight: 32 grams
Dimensions: 4.5 cm* 3.3 cm
Condition: Excellent, enamel perfect, silver also excellent, small dent on top of lid. Hinge and clasp perfect. Interior gilding also good.
Description: A lovely antique silver and enamel vesta case, with an oval enamel plaque depicting a Beefeater (Yeoman Warder) of the Tower of London. The Beefeater is wearing Tudor State Dress, the colours are vibrant and the detail is good. The vesta case is rectangular, decorated with scrolling foliage, it has a safety suspension loop attached to the lid. The interior is gilded, this is a good quality case. The hallmarks are clear, including sword and wheatsheaves town mark for Chester. Charles Lyster & Son used the Chester assay office between 1899 and 1902, then switched to Spencer Street, Birmingham between 1903 and 1911 (perhaps linked to a change in location). The Yeoman Warders, commonly called Beefeaters, are the ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London. They were established in 1485 as Royal Guards, the Beefeater name is thought to derive from the large ration of beef they were issued daily in court. They only wear the Tudor State Dress depicted on Royal occasions.
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Victorian Silver & Enamel Vesta Case - Beefeater, Tower of London
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Silver & Enamel Vesta Case - Beefeater, open
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Beefeater enamel plaque on silver vesta
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Beefeater vesta case back
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Beefeater vesta striker
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Charles Lyster & son silver Chester hallmarks
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gilded interior to vesta lid, with hallmarks
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