Antique Silver Gilt Ornate Cased Jewellery Chest

This heavy silver and silver gilt box is a very decorative trinket or jewellery chest in a rectangular form with hinged lid. It was imported expressly for Catchpole & Williams [510 Oxford Street, London.W.] and is held in their original and beautiful handmade box. The chests interior is finished in silver gilt, is a joy to behold and is certainly lightly used since it was gifted. The interior is engraved with “In Grateful Remembrance [Undecipherable] Signature 1916” In addition the chest contains a small handwritten card that reads “With my very best wishes & ever grateful thanks from [Undecipherable Signature]. Catchpole & Williams were a well-known firm of jewellers and silversmiths dating from 1832 or thereabouts. At that time Purse (Jr) and James Catchpole were to be found at 120 Regent Street. That partnership came to an end at or about 1835. Thereafter James Catchpole continued at the same address. After a period on his own he then worked in partnership with Charles Williams, trading as Catchpole & Williams. This partnership to dissolved on 4th June 1846, at which time they were described as goldsmiths and jewellers. Catchpole moved to Conduit Street, off Regent Street, where his firm remained until the mid-1860’s, trading in the later part as James Catchpole & Son. Having broken with Catchpole, Charles Williams, trading as Charles Williams & Co, moved to 223 Oxford Street where he succeeded to the business of William Williams. The firm advertised soon afterwards as '(late Catchpole and Williams)’. The style of the firm was changed to Charles Williams, C.J. Hill & Co, otherwise Williams & Hill, upon the introduction into the partnership of Charles Johnston Hill. The partnership between Charles Williams, who died early in 1874, his brother Henry Richard Williams and C.J. Hill, described as jewellers and goldsmiths, was formally dissolved on 4th April 18746. Thereafter the firm was continued by Charles Johnston Hill at 223 Oxford Street, W (19.8.1880), where in 1878 he and Catchpole & Williams are listed as goldsmiths, silversmiths and diamond merchants. C.J. Hill and Catchpole & Williams were subsequently at 510 Oxford Street, W, where by 1894 they are listed as goldsmiths, silversmiths, jewellers, pearl and diamond merchants and dealers in second-hand plate. After Hill's death aged 68 on 6th August 1895, the business at 510 Oxford Street was converted into a limited liability company under the style of Catchpole & Williams Ltd. The Chest additionally carries the import silversmith’s mark of Adolph Philipp Krieger [Apk], date letter ‘p’ (London 1910). Apk was an importer of fine work from all over Europe, but principally from Austria, especially where; silver and gold relief and fine enamel work was involved. He also supplied other retailers, for example he procured fitted dressing cases and travel bags for the likes of Mappin & Webb. It is held by many that, Apk was instrumental in both Catchpole and Williams and Mappin & Webb obtaining Royal Warrants of supply, although this is also disputed by others.