Unmarked silver pill box w/ red flowers on lid.

I need some help with this item, please.

It is not marked anywhere I could see.

If anyone recognizes where this piece may have originated or what the material on the lid is made from, I would be very appreciative.

It measures 1" to the top, 1 13/16" by 1 1/4" across.







Thank you for any & advice or opinions!!

 

It's cinnabar, from China. I don't think it's the old kind. It's carved, but I don't see the "layers"; proper old cinnabar is lacquer, painted on itself layer by layer and then carved.

 

That was the word that was escaping me!! Thank you!!

 

It happens. Proper nouns and MS sometimes... a month ago I couldn't remember Peridot for love or money. I could tell you what it was, just not the name. It's annoying when that happens.

 

3 small marks on the closure tab......... anything there??

 

Looks like genuine cinnabar lacquer, I think I see layering:



Also no burst bubbles.
The general consensus among sellers on ebay and etsy seems to be 1940s. Don't know if they are right.

 

Thank you!!

Unfortunately, nothing there as far as marks. Just a "blobbing" of the silver material & half-assed cleaning by yours truly. (My hands were giving out by the time I got to this piece. I'll share a photo of why later today.)

Thank you!!

Once @evelyb30 reminded me of the appropriate word, I did see several listed on eBay, but none were hinged. They all used the word Cinnabar, but of course, that doesn't always mean they are correct.

Where would this type of box be made? Generically China?

I assume that, since it had a significant amount of tarnish before cleaning, some silver is involved in the composition of the material used to make the box. Could I correctly call it "silver alloy" or would something else be more appropriate?

 

Yes, carved cinnabar lacquer is typically Chinese. It is also known in older Export Silver jewellery.

It could be silver plated.

 

Thank you so much!!

I took the photos of why my hands were giving out when I was polishing it & will post them to the Finds thread later today.

 

Even if it's alpaca it's better than anything I found today.

 

The lot (shown in the finds thread) was actually found on eBay.