ANTIQUE 1700’s TINY BILSTON / BATTERSEA FLOWER TOP PILL BOX

ANTIQUE 1700’s TINY BILSTON / BATTERSEA FLOWER TOP PILL BOX

 

 

ANTIQUE 1700’s TINY BILSTON / BATTERSEA FLOWER TOP PILL BOX

Battersea boxes originated in the English village of Battersea around 1750. However, factories in other areas, particularly in the English village of Bilston, became a thriving center for producing similar snuff / pill / patch / trinket boxes that were created by fusing porcelain coatings to the copper frames that were then fired in a kiln. Thus, the term Battersea or Bilston became a generic name for all such boxes. These boxes were both functional and decorative, and were popular as gifts and souvenirs for travelers, and often given as keepsakes, which accounts for some remaining in mint, unused condition. These late 1700’s handmade pocket size flower top painted porcelain boxes are made in  a few  different sizes and shapes; however, this is the smallest pill box size I have seen, and so appears to have been made in very limited quantities. Their rarity stems from not only being around 200+ years old, but also from their tiny size, which obviously could easily be lost over time. The top of this small piece is about 7/8" in diameter X 3/4" tall, and weighs a mere is .3 oz. or 10 grams. The bottom of the base measures about 11/16” and is waisted in the center for better grasping.  All are hand made with different colors of glazing for the base and attention to details in the hand painted tops. The slightly domed top is hand painted with a red rose in the center, surrounded by blue, yellow / purple, and yellow / red flowers with a leaves border. The copper top and bottom rims have turned very dark brown / black from natural aging that validates its age. The tops had a variety of embellishment designs in classical motifs. These pieces were not signed or dated but can be authenticated by the blackish coloration of the copper rims that take a Century+ to darken, examining their hand painted detail, and their delicate and distinct size, shape, and colors.

The inside top and bottom show the proper characteristics of being handmade natural white porcelain with the inside white porcelain bottom rim having a tiny slit of naturally occurring kiln firing process, and one minuscule 1 cm nick to the outside pink bottom rim that appears many, many times larger than actual size in the images that exaggerate the details. Note that most 200+ year old objects have idiosyncrasies. The bottom rim of the top appears to be in untouched original condition but was loose fitting to the base, so I added a thin ring of tape to make the top fit snugly with the base. Perhaps someone long ago slightly expanded the rim as it was too hard to remove, or the copper expanded slightly from exposure to heat over time? In my opinion, the thin bottom edge of the top could easily be crimped inward to fit tightly if desired, but I have left it untouched, as found condition save for the thin band of tape at the top of the base. This tiny 1700’s pill box would be perfect for any 18th-century, smalls, pill box, folk art, decorator, conversation piece or gift.

PAYMENT

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PAYPAL & ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER, e-CHECKS & ALL MAJOR CREDIT & DEBIT CARDS, APPLE PAY, GOOGLE PAY AND ALL OTHER PAYMENT METHODS APROVED BUY EBAY.

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SHIPPING

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FREE SHIPPING & HANDLING FOR DOMESTIC BUYERS & TO THE EBAY U.S.A. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING CENTER.

FOR USA PURCHASES, SHIPPING, HANDLING & DELIVERY IS FREE VIA U.S.P.S. FIRST CLASS MAIL (UP TO 16 OZ.) OR U.S.P.S. PRIORITY MAIL USING ONLINE SHIPPING LABELS WITH DELIVERY CONFIRMATION. INTERNATIONAL BUYERS WILL HAVE THEIR ITEM SHIPPED TO EBAY'S U.S. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING CENTER; AND EBAY WILL INFORM THE BUYER OF THE ADDITIONAL SHIPPING / CUSTOMS / TARIFFS, VALUE ADDED OR ANY OTHER FEES, LEVIES OR TAXES. All items are shipped within 1 to 2 business days with email confirmation. Exceptions include holidays, power outages, and evacuations. Items shipped to a California address require CA State sales tax of 8.625% or a valid CA seller's permit # or the item cannot be shipped. All items are shipped using PayPal or eBay's online shipping service and are covered for non-delivery by their shipping service with free tracking and delivery confirmation. BUYER AGREES TO EBAYS RULE THAT SIGNATURE CONFIRMATIN IS REQUIRED FOR ALL ITEMS OVER $750, AND OTHER SHIPPING CHARGES SUCH AS U.S.P.S. EXPRESS MAIL MUST BE REQUESTED AND PAID FOR ANY OPTIONS WITH PURCHASE, AND WILL MAKE DELIVERY ARRANGEMENTS FOR ITEMS REQUIRING A SIGNATURE AS PROOF OF RECEIPT.

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TERMS & CONDITIONS

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ALL BUYERS MUST CONFIRM HIGH BIDDER STATUS AND MUST MAKE PAYMENT WITHIN 3 BUSINESS DAYS OR 5 CALENDAR DAYS AFTER LISTING ENDS; otherwise, Seller reserves the right to cancel the sale and report you to eBay as a non-paying bidder. Seller reserves the right to relist an item if eBay's system goes down within 24 hours of the end of the auction. Bids will not be accepted from anyone that is not a registered eBay user. Seller reserves the right to cancel bids from any eBay buyer who Seller determines has an unsatisfactory eBay transaction history, has changed their eBay user Identity in the previous 30 days, whose eBay rating is listed as private.

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SELLER'S RETURN POLICY

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eBay customers are protected when they are an eligible buyer, complete a purchase of an eligible item on a eBay's website, and purchase the item on eBay by using the "Pay Now" option, third-party checkout or an eBay invoice in one lump payment with a PayPal approved financial business. Buyers must keep their PayPal account in good standing. Buyers must show good faith conduct with the seller. Improper good faith conduct can include, but is not limited to, any means by which a buyer can attempt to unjustly benefit from the Seller's Terms & conditions or eBay's Buyer Protection plan. Moreover, good faith conduct does not include buyer's remorse, regardless of the reason. Returns will not be accepted such as changed my mind, found a better price, just didn't like it, Ordered by mistake, Arrived too late, etc. Returns will not be accepted and buyers will be reported to eBay when buyer makesfalse claims such as doesn't match description or photos, doesn't seem authentic, Doesn't fit, Wrong item sent, Missing parts or pieces, Doesn't work or defective, Arrived damaged. If you wish to take advantage of any of the issue resolution options available from the seller, you must have the business courtesy to discuss any potential issue within 3 days of receipt, and gain agreement with the seller prior to requesting a return through eBay, leaving feedback or initiating any online dispute process. By doing so, buyers commit to negotiate in good faith, and that they have not initiated any other form of resolution processing; including eBay / PayPal dispute process or credit card charge backs, or purchases where you have been or may be compensated by a third party. Possible buyer / seller resolution examples are: if seller and buyer agree that an item is significantly different than described and photographed, exchanging an item for a different item from the seller (whether listed or unlisted), credit from the seller against any current or future item, adjustment, trade, return, or any other arrangement that is mutually agreed upon between the seller and the buyer, and confirmed in writing via eBay's email system. These options are designed to expedite resolution of any potential issue quickly, easily and amicably, in lieu of eBay / PayPal on-line dispute resolution process which is lengthy, laborious, and allows decisions to be made by a 3rd party instead of the principals; i.e., the buyer & seller. Due to a myriad of International and U.S. Federal, State, Territory, County, City or Local law(s), ordinance(s), restrictions(s) or regulation(s), some articles shipped via U.S.P.S. may have restrictions and / or regulations that may apply to your article(s) shipped to a U.S. address. Buyers are responsible for knowing if any International, Federal, State, Territory, County, City or Local law(s), ordinance(s), restrictions(s) or regulation(s) may apply to your article(s) shipped to your ship to your address; and buyers are responsible for any loss if any prohibited or restricted item(s) shipped to your ship to address is confiscated for any reason. Any item returned must be pre-approved by the seller and received by seller within 7 days from receipt. If a buyer claims the item is damaged in shipping, it must send photographic proof on eBays email system, gain agreement with the seller, and item must be returned before buyer enters a feedback comment and before any exchange, credit or refund is issued. Buyer must use appropriate shipping, delivery confirmation and / or signature confirmation (items $250 ) and/or insurance at the buyers expense. Restocking fee, partial refunds and refunds are negotiable when buyers are dealing in good faith.

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ALL BUYERS AGREE TO SELLERS RETURN POLICY THAT SUPERSEDES EBAYS RETURN POLICY FOR ALL ITEMS.

v.9.19.2020

inkFrog