Perfect for favored "baubles and beads" is this pair of matched-opposites boxes constructed of seasoned dark stained wood with fitted tops/lids that are fitted/mounted/covered with amazing sterling silver clad repousse accent.
This set/pair of 'opposites-matched' trinket - vanity - jewelry - treasures storage boxes, i.e. one is a 1.) rectangle shape while the other is a 2.) circle/round shape, is rare, unique, and an unusual find. Their fitted sterling silver clad repousse tops/lids/covers have at their centers either a round repousse dome or an oval repousse dome. Though formed from strong gauge sterling silver clad sheets, both domes have suffered from some mistreatment - they both have been crushed. The repousse covering the boxes' tops-lids were created in "a resin or mastic then covered with 3 to 5 grams of 925 standard silver as shown by "3 ÷ 5" in the markings". The entrancing Italian renaissance revival design motif of floral and abstract flowing scrolling flourishes in sterling silver clad repousse is amazing and shows skilled artisanship.
Marked with the following: "925" , " * 148 AN " , "R" , "3 ÷ 5g" ,and "F.O."(appears signed by hand), the fitted tops/lids/covers are decorated with sterling silver clad fittings/(mounts/plates). These six(6) distinct sets of markings (in very small characters) appear on both of the tops/lids of the pair.
The "148" seen above represents the artisan/silversmith (assigned by the Italian government) who crafted the entrancing and flowing sterling silver Italian repousse clad coverings decorating and mounted to the fitted tops-lids-covers of the boxes. The Italian silver marking system similarly compares to that of the TAXCO system used on Mexican sterling system jewelry, which allows for individual artisan distinctions/identity. The Italian hallmarking is a bit more complicated, however.
In 1968 Italian legislation ordered the makers mark form be changed to a rectangle w/pointed sides; a five pointed star symbol left side with 925 oval cartouche, indicating the boxes were produced post-1968 The following was copied to offer further explanation of Italian silver markings ;
" In the handles of the knives non metallic substance is allowed without limits of its density, and is allowed to fix the blade with welding in non-precious metal on condition that the handle bears the word "riempito" or the mark "R" within a square and the indication of the weight of the precious metal (in grams and tenths of gram) followed by the symbol "g". In the silver handles with a weight of precious metal inferior or equal to 50 grams the weight may be expressed in approximate manner, using the "R" followed by two figures, separated from the symbol "÷" and the letter "g", in which the figures represent, in grams, the minimum and maximum weight of the precious metal: 1÷2, 2÷3, 3÷5, 5÷7, 7÷10, 10÷13, 13÷16, 16÷20, 20÷25, 25÷30, 30÷35, 35÷40, 40÷45, 45÷50.
Handcrafted in Ancona, Italy, indicated by the above "AN" marking, this pair of boxes provides a fine example of fine Italian sterling silver artisanship.
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