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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: marcylove on November 21, 2010, 10:59:09 PM
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;D I got this silver case and I have no idea what it was used for... ???
As you can see, it's significantly smaller than a business card, but on the inside it has the tabs to hold something...Hubby is saying that something went across the tabs, like a bar, and held ladies cigarettes...but as an ex-smoker myself, there's no way I would be satisfied with small, dainty, fairy-sized cigarettes, and I have never seen cigarettes that size.
I think it's too thick to hold a single photograph, and wouldn't help by just holding one side of the photo...
On one of the tabs, it says 'sterling' followed by a mark that looks like a crown, or an arrow across...something. ..but it's confusing because I didn't think sterling silver was plated, I always thought something sterling was solid. :-\
The outside is obviously silver, but the inside looks like brass or gold...my first guess was copper but it has more of a yellow hue than pink.
???
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Hmm... My first reaction was that it was a vinaigrette because they are about that size and gold washed on the inside. But it's not thick enough to hold a sponge inside. Can you get a photo of the hallmarks? It may be a holder for dance cards or calling cards.
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Here's a similar dance card holder, but not as pretty as yours:
http://www.silvercollection.it/pagina200.html (http://www.silvercollection.it/pagina200.html)
(http://www.silvercollection.it/carddance11.jpg)
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As Tales says, a clear pic of the marks would help. I can't quite work out the dimensions, is that card alongside some sort of loyalty card (credit card size?) ... if so, then a possibility might be a stamp case?
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Scroll down on this page for a similar example of a card case:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=385147&page=21 (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=385147&page=21)
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The maker's mark is a "W" with a big "C" and a small "o" and an arrow going through it for Webster Co.
http://www.925-1000.com/ax_webster.html I am not sure what the object is but I think Tales is correct on being a calling card holder.
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Here is a card case on ebay with a similar interior with the 2 "ears". http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360312354892
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Marcy, what are the dimensions of you case?
Came across this interesting site....
http://www.thecardcaseforum.co.uk/welcome.html
And here's a bit on size......
"The cardinal rule was that cases for ladies were always larger than those for gentlemen: a standard lady's case measured about 75 x 100mm (3" x 4"), whilst a gentleman’s case was generally no larger than 48 x 88mm (2" x 3½")."
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Totally love the old card holders. Unique that this one doesn't have a place for a chain! Which my first inclination was for a dance card.....
(http://www.animationplayhouse.com/pinkgirl1.gif)
However, it was very proper and the "in" thing to have calling cards.......Which would fit nicely in a purse or a muff when calling on friends, acquaintances. So leaning this way.....
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Oh My Gosh! Thank you for all the input people! ;D
Tales: That must be exactly what it is
Wayward: thanks for the hallmark identification!
Sapphire: The dimensions are 1.5"x2.5" and thanks for that site! There are WONDERFUL examples there!...I may have just found my collecting niche!
;D