Silver Letter-Opener with Cheshire Cat Finial – 1914

For cat-lovers and Alice-in-Wonderland fans! Appropriately assayed in Chester, this small letter-opener is still a functional piece of silver, as well as an amusing example of antique novelty. The finial is decorated with a cast, grinning Cheshire cat, atop a forked capital at the end of a narrow blade. The blade carries full English Sterling hallmarks and the sponsor's/maker's mark S.I.Ld for Stokes & Ireland Limited (William Henry Stokes & Arthur George Ireland). It is laso struck "Butt Silversmith Chester" to the other side. It is possible that Butt&co - who were working silversmiths - actually made this, but that Stokes and Ireland presented it for assay and marketed it. However, it is equally possible that Butt&Co purchased this from Stokes and Ireland - as they were retailers in Eastgate Row, Chester. In additon, along the back of the cat, there is registered design number probably 395533 that implies the design dates from 1902/3.