ANTIQUE VANITY JAR - Small English 19th century hobnob crystal jar with repousse sterling silver topper from fashion Birmingham from 1851

Small English hobnob crystal jar with embossed sterling silver topper from Birmingham from 1927.

The delightful silver topper fashion was embossed in a Renaissance style with two birds amid scrolls framing a decorative medallion. Underneath is a grimacing face, perhaps a mystical animal's head with stylized antlers and whiskers amid foliage.

The hallmarks are hidden in the pattern. One gathers the lion for sterling silver, the anchor for Birmingham, and a C for 1927. The other has the letters S.M.L. for Samuel M Levi, silversmith in Birmingham.

The body is cut with a pretty hobnob pattern with a double crisscrossing grid . The base displays an eight pointed carved star.

The jar displays age and use appropriate wear. Please note that there are a couple little holes in the embossed work, from fabrication and seen only when the lid is held to the light. The mouth of the jar doesn't have any chips. The base shows some minute scratches consistent with use. There is one minute chip on the bottom edge, barely invisible because it is tucked on a bevel.

I have another perfume bottle from the same silversmith in my store.