Victorian Style Pair of English Toilet Flasks Crystal Ground and Sterling Silver

Details

Description

Particular pair of toilet bottles in cut and ground by hand crystal; for their execution, it was used crystal with … Read more Particular pair of toilet bottles in cut and ground by hand crystal; for their execution, it was used crystal with a percentage of lead of 30%; the high lead content, instead of calcium present in the common glass, gives the crystal a remarkable hardness, exceptional transparency, and a high refractive index; with the techniques of cutting, grinding and polishing, scrupulously performed by hand, extraordinary light effects and reflections were created; the bottles with the ball body are surmounted by a silver neck and a hinged lid finely chiseled with Victorian motifs. They bear the Classic English silver punches from which we can tell that they were produced in the Victorian style in the city of Birmingham in 1907 (Edward VII) by the firm Phineas Harris Levi & Joseph Wolfe Salaman. The company was founded in 1870 in Birmingham on Northampton Street, in 1872 moved to larger premises on Hockley Street and in 1885 the business was finally moved to a prestigious building on Newhall Street. Levi & Salaman produced much Fine silverware, enameled items, toiletries, tortoiseshell items, manicure sets, baby sets, and an impressive selection of souvenir spoons. The company successfully participated in the Barcelona Exhibition of 1888 and in the Jewelers' Exhibition of 1914. The following year, at the British Industries Fair, they exhibited again, and one object, in particular, was of great historical interest: one of their silver spoons that had saved the life of a soldier during the war by deflecting a bullet that would otherwise have killed him; this episode captured the interest of the English monarchs who wanted to be present on the day of the inauguration. We must also report below a tragic event in the history of Levi & Salaman. Before the war, Salaman had been a captain in the Birmingham Company of the Jewish Lads' Brigade and had been a member of the Cambridge University Rifle Volunteers. He volunteered for the Public Schools Company ("D") of Hawke Battalion, Royal Naval Division in December 1914. His battalion landed at Cape Helles, on the coast of Gallipoli, in May 1915. He was killed on 19 June 1915 by the effects of a grenade, while he was in the front line: exactly two months after the British Industries Fair! He was not as lucky as that English soldier whose life was saved by one of his silver spoons! These two bottles, elegant and graceful, will bring a touch of sophistication to any toilet or bedroom.

Measures: diameter cm 11, height cm 12. See less