A medium sized sterling silver and wicker, or rattan, wrapped travel drinking flask with removable drinking cup. This is a stunning and quite piece, very simple in design and the perfect pocket companion. The body splits in two between the gorgeous hand woven rattan and the silver for a removable drinking cup that completely slides off the body. This cup also doubles as an added layer of protection to the flask, to prevent any damage to the precious cargo. It is finely made, with a good gauge of silver and has the original lemon gilding to its interior.
This particular flask is a superb size to fit in any pocket, travel bag or handbag measuring five and a half inches tall. This size is convenient to carry, and can easily be concealed due to its size, however is still very practical, and would contain enough for a sports game or hike
The lid is not the 'classic' bayonet style fitting, but instead more akin to a bottle. It completely unscrews from the body. It has a cork liner to prevent any leakage, and closes to leave a very secure fit, free from leaking. The piece is in excellent condition throughout with the leather having taken on a beautiful patina to the rattan from nearly a hundred and fifty years of being loved. Made in London, England, in 1878 during the reign of queen Victoria. An interesting feature to this flask that is seldom seen is that the cup and the lid were made by two separate silversmiths. They are not a later replacement, as they both bear the identical London assay mark for 1878 as well. The cup was made by Thomas Johnson I of the Dyers Building, Holborn. The lid was made by Thornhill & Co (Walter Thornhill), of New Bond Street. This company specialised in lids and jars, so perhaps their skill set of turning threads into silver was called up to craft a perfectly sealing lid. Unusual nonetheless.
Overall, this is a stunning piece in really remarkable shape given its age. The perfect accessory for the summer picnic.
