Portuguese Trompe-l'oeil Silver Coin Box

This delightful little box has been made from silver in Portugal and is topped with a period coin. The round box is crafted from 833 purity silver (833 out of 1000 parts pure silver) and is gold washed to the interior meaning the inside will not tarnish. The top of the box is mounted with an 1899 silver Portuguese '1000 Reis' coin which pre dates the manufacture of the box by several decades. There are some very fine Portuguese hallmarks to the underside and to the rim of the lid indicating it was made in Porto between 1938 and 1984. The sides of the box have been engraved to give the illusion that it is a stack of coins rather than a box, a technique called 'trompe-l'oeil' which essentially means 'trick of the eye'. The piece presents in very good order, the lid fits snugly and other than a small grey spot on the coin it has no flaws. A lovely addition to a gentleman's desk or could even hold stud earrings on a woman's vanity table.

Marked - Portuguese hallmark for 833 purity silver from Porto (1938-1984) and a second illegible mark

Measures - 3.6cm W x 2.2cm H

Total weight of piece - 48.5 grams