Victorian Gold Washed Etui by F. West

Product Details

Exquisite Victorian mercury gilded etui, made by F. West of 1 St. James’s Street, London.  The etui is for fine needle work, possibly pulled/thread work or lacemaking.

The set is beautifully housed in a satin finished, gilded scallop shell box, rising from three three spiral snail shell form feet.

The sewing tools are all original to the box with the exception of the sterling silver thimble, hallmarked Chester 1919.

The etui is identified by maker and addres on the inside near the hinge:

West . 1 . St. James’s St.  *  signifying that the set was made between 1839 and 1877.

4 1/4” (10.8cm) diameter, 1 3/4” (4.5cm) high.

$4500.

* F. (Fitzmaurice) West was established as a cutler, work-box and dressing case manufacturer as early as 1839 at the 1 St. James’s Street address.  He held Royal patronages to HM Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, the Duchess of Kent and other members of the royal family.  In 1877 he moved his business to 2 St. James’s Street, moving again to 9 King Street, St. James’s in 1883.  

West exhibited his Dressing Cases, Writing Cases and Travelling Bags at the International Exhibition of 1862 in London, England.  His position on the panel of jurors over the category of Dressing Cases, Despatch Boxes and Travelling Cases precluded him from having his own exhibits judged, however the following was documented in the 'International Exhibition 1862 - Reports By The Juries On The Subjects In The Thirty-Six Classes Into Which The Exhibition Was Divided' (Peter Le Neve FOSTER, John Frederick ISELIN (the Elder) 1863), «The Jury consider it a duty to state their opinion with respect to the collections exhibited by Mr. F. West and Messrs. M. & B. [Mechi & Bazin], and to declare that, but for the exceptional and honourable position which they hold, they would have placed them in the first order of merit".