A pair of tortoiseshell & silver pin boxes with matching interiors by Cornelius Desormeaux Saunders. The boxes are fully hallmarked for Chester, 1894 and 1895 respectively. Retailed by Rowell, Oxford; an iconic jeweller who provided jewels for royalty.
One box bears the word 'pins' in sterling silver, the other has art nouveau foliate scroll decoration to opposite corners. It appears that the latter box would have had script to the centre originally as there is evidence of mounting holes but it remains attractive nonetheless.
Both boxes have signs of wear to the exterior commensurate with age. The 'Pins' box has a small chip to the rear and both boxes show some 'misting' to the tortoiseshell tops (please see photographs). The interiors of both remain in an excellent condition with the original green velvet cushioning remaining bright and clean. Both boxes have retained their original maroon leather bases.
Dimensions
'Pins' Box
Length: 10.5cm
Depth: 6.5cm
Height: 3cm
Weight: 75 grams
Foliate Box
Length: 13cm
Depth: 7cm
Height: 2.5cm
Weight: 90 grams