is is a beautifully made vintage hallmarked silver cigarette box. It would have been put on a desk in a den or office and cigarettes would have been offered to clients or friends.
It would also be handed around at more formal parties or events.
Of course, smoking is not so fashionable these days - and the silver box could now be used to store little bits of jewellery, personal items, or office clips and pads.
There is a good bit of weight to this box - it is lined with a light-coloured sandalwood material - the lid is lined with wood - and the interior has two fitted wooden sections, as photographed. The wood does not smell of tobacco and is nice and clean - I expect that since this was a presentation item - that it was never used - and just put on display by the Middlemass Family with some pride.
So what was the presentation - it has an inscription on the front relating to an agricultural award for the SCOTTISH NATIONAL FAT STOCK CLUB / CHAMPIONSHIP ./ FOR THE BEST PEN OF PIGS IN THE SHOW / A MIDDLEMASS ESQ / HOWMUIR / 1956. The reference to the best fat pigs made me laugh!
The Stock Club was founded over 100 years ago. The farm is still a working one and all this time later still managed by the Middlemass Family. The farm is located at East Linton, in East Lothian.
The side of the cigarette box is hallmarked for London 1954. The lid is also hallmarked on the side. The maker's mark SJR for S.J. Rose & Son of Brimingham.
As you can see from my photographs - it is a lovely box. The top is a simple geometric engine-turned decoration on it. There is a shiny octagonal lozenge - where a monogram would be applied. This remains blank without inscriptions. The sides are nice and shiny - with the hallmarks to one side. The box is hinged to the back and has a little thumb switch at the front - for you to lift up to open the box. The base is a dark blue leather type material - so the box does not scratch your furniture.
Dimensions: width is 6 3/4 inches. The depth is 3 1/2 inches and the height is 2 1/8 inches.
There are no dents or dings, and it is in as good a condition as the day that it was made. A great item for the Middlemass family, for collectors interested in Scottish Agriculture - or just looking for a nice silver box for their desk or dressing table.
These old boxes are now getting harder to source - especially ones with no dents etc - The inscription could easily be burnished off - if it was not something that you wanted - but I like the reference to it being a piece of Scottish agricultural history.
It will be sent to you in the UK with Royal Mail Recorded Delivery post. This will cost £10 and applied to your order at the checkout.