1920s Fantastic Engine Turned Sterling Silver and Walnut Wood Trinket Jewelry Storage Box

Details

Description

A singular piece of craftsmanship and history, this unique antique presentation box masterfully combines warm, rich walnut with cool, gleaming … Read more A singular piece of craftsmanship and history, this unique antique presentation box masterfully combines warm, rich walnut with cool, gleaming sterling silver details. The elegantly engraved sterling silver lid (5 1/4 inches x 3 1/4 inches) bears a hand-engraved monogram CHR in the upper right corner, while the underside reveals a personal dedication, adding remarkable provenance:

To Cliff Harris. “Wheat in the Mill.” From his Associates in the Credit Department, Central Union Trust Company of New York.

The phrase “Wheat in the Mill” echoes the wisdom of Maltbie D. Babcock’s reflection on providence and gratitude — a touching inscription likely meant to honor service, character, and contribution within one of New York’s distinguished financial institutions.

Adding to its refinement, the box rests on four sterling silver ball feet, further elevating its stature as both a functional object and a collector's treasure. Measuring 6.75 inches wide by 4.75 inches deep and 3.5 inches high, the box features a pristine white milk glass liner — a detail often found in fine 19th- and early 20th-century tobacco or humidor boxes. The sterling silver lid weighs 79 grams. Good antique condition with light signs of age-related wear and handling. Please review the photos for further condition assessment.

Historical Note:
The Central Union Trust Company of New York — established originally as Central Trust Company in 1873 — played a pivotal role in New York’s banking history. Through decades of mergers and transformations, it eventually became part of Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company in 1961, a predecessor to today’s JPMorgan Chase.

A rare and meaningful artifact of early 20th-century corporate culture, personal tribute, and fine decorative arts — ideal for collectors of antique silver, historic Americana, or tobacco-related ephemera. See less