Mid Victorian Sterling Silver Hip Flask



This elegant hip flask is made from sterling silver in oval, cushion form with a bayonet-locking cap with cork seal.  The surface is plain and there are no personalised engravings.  This flask has a 130ml capacity (almost ¼ pint) and I have tested it and found it to be watertight. It has been hallmarked to both sides but, after 160 years or use and cleaning, these are very rubbed.  However, I have been able to piece together the following information from the parts of the marks I can see.  To one side is a feint impression of the London assay mark (a Leopard’s head) in a shield cartouche which was used until 1895 and, to the other, is a mark showing part of Victoria’s head which was a mark only use up until 1889.  On this side, there is also part of a date letter which is clearly the lower section of the Gothic script cycle that was used from 1856 until 1875.  From what I can see of the letter, I believe it is either an ‘a’ or a ‘d’ and, because of the shape of the cartouche it’s in, I believe it to be the former which is the date letter for 1856.  The maker’s mark appears on both sides and, although rubbed, shows the letters ‘WS’ in an oval cartouche which I believe to be the mark of William Summers who was working at this time. 
This flask is in good condition, the bayonet lock works perfectly and the cork seal is in very good condition.  However, after more than a century and a half, there are some things to bring to your attention.  To one side, there is a shallow thumb-sized bruise/indentation which is noticeable.  To one shoulder, there is a pea-sized bruise, a very light, small bruise down the same side, two light 1cm long bruises to the base and a light, pea-sized bruise to the other side.  There are a few tiny black and opaque spots and light surface abrasions as a result of use over the years.  To the top edge of the cap there is a tiny, pinhead dint.  The gilding to the interior of the neck is still nice and rich.  All in all, the issues are minor considering the age of this piece.
Approximate Measurements
Length             -           12 cm (4.75”)
Width              -           7.6 cm (3”) across the widest point
Thickness        -           2.5 cm (1”)
Weight            -           112 grams
Please see the photos below and feel free to get in touch with any questions
CONTACT:                  
jochyra@yahoo.co.uk
POSTAL CHARGES
All items of value are sent by Signed-For mail with full insurance cover in order to comply with Paypal regulations on Buyer Protection.  I do not charge for packaging and have a policy of not making any profit on postage fees so you are only charged the exact postal cost plus (unfortunately) the fee that Ebay & Paypal now charge on postage.

 






































Payment is required within 72 hours of committing to buy an item or an auction ending. Paypal is the preferred method of payment and the only option open to Overseas buyers.  Cheques or Postal Orders are accepted from UK buyers subject to clearance of funds which normally takes about 5 working days after receipt.  Buyers who wish to collect in person may pay in advance through Paypal or in cash upon collection.



I endeavour to ship items within 2 working days of cleared payment.  All packages. except very low value items, are sent by Royal Mail Signed-For service and have adequate insurance built into the postage cost.  I do not make any profit on postage/insurance costs and don’t charge for packaging.  To ensure items are safe in transit, I package them very well and, unfortunately, this does increase mailing costs somewhat.  All packages must be signed for upon receipt. Failure to do so or collect a package will result in it being returned to me and the buyer will be responsible for the cost of re-sending the item.  Any Import Duties, Taxes and other charges due on International purchases are the sole responsibility of the buyer. I am happy to combine postal charges for multiple purchases and have a policy of automatically refunding any overpaid postage if I have over-estimated it.



My aim is to try to ensure that items I sell fully meet the buyer's expectation and, for this reason, I provide photos of all aspects of items on sale and give a very detailed written description and condition report. PLEASE NOTE that all items sold are used and are either Antique or Vintage which means there will be some very light surface abrasions caused through cleaning and use.

If a buyer purchases an item and it does not match its description or photos, I will give a no quibble refund for the cost of the item and the shipping costs incurred. If, however, a buyer changes his/her mind about a purchase, then he/she may also return it for a full refund of the item's cost but the outward and return shipping costs will be the responsibility of the buyer.

Should you wish to return an item, please contact me as soon as possible after receiving it.  To qualify for a refund, Items must be returned to the seller within 14 days of the date of receipt.  Return postage must be by the same, secure method as that originally used to dispatch the item to the buyer which will normally be a Signed-For Mail Service with adequate compensation included.  Once I have safely received the item and checked that it is unused and in the same condition as it was when it was originally dispatched, the relevant refund will be made to the buyer’s Paypal account.



I source only high quality antique and vintage silver for resale online at wholesale prices. I deliberately set start prices for auction items above the current scrap value to ensure that these beautiful items go to a good home and not the melting pot. Through selling online, I maintain low overheads and try to set 'Buy It Now' prices for fine pieces at a lower rate than those charged by most antique shops and fairs.  I am very passionate about the pieces I sell and am most happy when they go to a new home where they’ll be fully appreciated.



If you have any questions whatsoever about an item I am selling, please feel free to contact me at julian@creativepartner.info and I will be more than happy to answer them.  Should you wish to collect or view any items, I am located in Willesden Green, London NW2.


 
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