Castle Top Silver: History, Valuations & How to Sell
Castle top silver is highly collectable. If you have a piece of Castle Top Silver and would like to find out more your item please read our guide to their history at the end of this page. You will also find a guide for the 6 things to look for in your Castle Top Silver and a guide to the common hallmarks used.
Castle top silver refers to a specific style of English silverware that was popular during the 19th century. It is characterized by its elaborate designs and intricate engravings, often depicting castles, landmarks, or scenes from literature. The term “castle top” comes from the practice of engraving these designs on the lid or cover of a silver box, such as a snuffbox or card case. These pieces were often used for decorative or sentimental purposes and were considered highly desirable among the upper class.
One of the key features to look for in castle top silver is the quality of its engravings. Skilled artisans would spend hours intricately hand-engraving each piece, resulting in detailed and stunning designs. Another important factor to consider is the condition of the silver itself. Look out for any signs of wear or damage, as this can greatly affect its value.
What Is Your Silver Worth?
How To Sell: Auction or Private Sale?
Mark Littler Ltd. is one of the only independent advisers in the antique industry. We offer trusted, independent advice to help you sell your silver for the highest possible price.
Selling at an auction might provide your silver with greater exposure. However, with a combined average of 45% in gross buyers’ and sellers’ fees, this approach might prove to be a false economy.
Conversely, finding a private buyer for your silver through our services could net you 33% more than if you sold it via auction, as our fees are only 12%.
Important Note: this is a valuation service and not a hallmark identification service. Please see this page to learn how to read your hallmarks.
Silver Valuation Tips
To get the most accurate valuation of your silver simply ensure you provide the following information:
- What condition is your silver in? Let us know if there are and dents or heavy scratches in the silver.
- How heavy is your item? Please provide a measurement in grams if you can as this helps us determine the gauge of the silver. For instance a silver teapot can weigh as much as 1,000g or as little as 250g. Outwardly the design may look identical but the gauge of the silver is much heavier. This is important as items made from a better gauge of silver were often made by better makers for the upper classes, and as such will have a big impact on the value.
- PROVENANCE! Who owned your item before you did? Is there an interesting presentation inscription on your item that might shine light into it’s former life?
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What to look for in your Castle Top Silver
Condition
The condition of the decoration on castle top silver is very important. Look for signs of an over zealous cleaner as a previous owner; if it has been over-polished there will be no fine details left. A split around the seam of the case is normally repairable.
Hallmarks
The hallmarks on your card case are likely to be on the inner rim of the base. As the marks are placed in direct contact with the closing lid they can sometimes become obscured. As long as the date and maker are readable it is considered ok.
Card Cases
The record for a castle top card case stands at £9,800 which was for a very rare example of The Post Office, Dublin. More typically they sell for £300-500, with the value being mostly formed from how unfrequnetly the building or castle occurs on a case.
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Vinaigrettes
Although castle top vinaigrettes have a higher average selling price than card cases, often around £500-1000 depending on the subject, the record is only £6,600. Look out for vinaigrettes in their original boxes as they are often in perfect condition.
Embossed decoration
Most castle top silver is made by die stamping (pushing the metal out from behind using a stamp). The greater the decoration stands clear from the front of the cover, the harder it was to make, and highly detailed cases are very sought after by collectors.
Engraved Decoration
Castle Top Silver can also have engraved decoration. A specialist engraver would often be employed just to add the decoration to the front of the card case or vinaigrette. As the decoration is shallow it can be prone to rubbing and loosing details.
The Main Castle Top Silver Hallmarks
Alfred Taylor
Birmingham – registered mark 1851, active circa 1853-1870. Currently it is an Alfred Taylor card case which holds the world record price for an item of castle top silver.
George Unite
Birmingham – registered first mark in 1832, active circa 1832-1901. The record for a George Unite castle top card case is £9,200.
Nathaniel Mills
Birmingham – active 1826-1857. The record for a Nathaniel Mills castle top card case is £9,200.
A History of Castle Top Silver Boxes
In the mid-19th century, small silver boxes depicting images of castles, manor houses, or churches were used to carry cards, snuff, and vinaigrettes. These silver cases were fashioned by the Birmingham ‘toy’ makers. They were engraved or die-stamped with British landmarks. Castle top silver cases were likely marketed as souvenirs for honeymooners and day-trippers in Victorian England and are highly collectable.
The custom of leaving visiting cards lasted throughout the 19th century, and the need for covering up offensive odours outdoors (which vinaigrettes were used for) certainly persisted through that period. Yet castle top silver was only at the height of fashion between the period of circa 1830 to 1860. This rather brief period of popularity limits the cases availability and in turn makes these Castle Top Silver cases highly collectable today.
Castle top card cases
Calling cards were left behind at a residence if the required person wasn’t available. They served as both an introductory letter and a symbol of manners and social standing. Cards for unmarried men were usually smaller than the cards married men carried. The most desirable card cases in the mid-19th century featured scenes of British landmarks.
Castle top vinaigrettes
Vinaigrettes held sponges dipped in strong fragrance to help mask unpleasant street smells. Wealthy citizens could afford the fragrances needed to mask the strong scents. The beautiful castle top silver cases helped a disagreeable situation feel a bit more tolerable.
Castle top silver in the 21st century
Castle top silver is now valued for the variety of depictions of British landmarks. The rarer the building, the higher the demand in today’s market. You can find engravings of Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Melrose Abbey, and Oxford College, just to name a few.
