Age of outer case - thoughts

Any thoughts on the age of this outer case? It is a black leatherette (not leather) in the Morocco style and has brass catches as seen. I don't want to show the contents yet as I don't want to influence the thoughts on the age, as to me the ages don't seem to quite marry (although I'm sure the contents are contemporary to the box). European but not British if it helps.

Many thanks for any thoughts.

 

It may help to show the inside, you can remove the contents

 

That would still likely give it away, but it is lined in white satin (now foxed) and fitted for the contents.

 

As you give no measurements we'll consider it's not for an early 20th guitar

possible salad servers ? set of knives ? medical tools ?

there were specialised shops that made these boxes for whatever you liked

 

AHA! A set of dueling pistols

 

1900-20

 

55cm by 30 cm

 

Yep, but it's the age of the box I'm interested in, as it will help resolve the age of the contents. I have the contents and know exactly what they are, but there is in my view a mis-match in the box style to the contents which I am trying to resolve, hence I'm interested if there are opinions on the box age.

 

That would probably be a lot more valuable, but no, and I'm in the UK so guns are pretty uncommon even if they are of obsolete calibre.

 

1930.....to 35..

 

Must be extra dense today, because I'm confused - you say you're sure the contents are contemporary to the box, but there's a mis-match in the style even though it's fitted for the contents. It's a basic presentation case, with simple catches (would assume the same true of the hinges), the covering appears to be grain-embossed paper, but I've seen cheap bonded leather paper-thin. Don't know if the fittings under the fabric are wood, cardboard, foam, or what, and you describe the lining as satin, but that's a weave, if synthetic material, would indicate later dating, and items could be fitted or refitted for cases at any time, so it may or may not be original. Guessing its contents make it European, but not British, but if they're a mis-match, how can you know? At any rate, I'm going to guess somewhere between the late 19th century and mid 20th...

~Cheryl

 

I bought the items without seeing the case, I suspected they were 1960's or 70's, but when I got the items they came with the case. I also thought the case looked earlier, perhaps inter-war which seems to be the general opinion so far. If the case was made to fit the items, then the items must be earlier than I suspected. I think the case must be contemporary to the items, because they fit perfectly and there is no sign of later re-manufacture, the under liner and flocking all seems right. Also they probably aren't valuable enough to warrant having a case made after the event.

Case seems to be compressed board (can't be 100% as I can't get a good look underneath, the liner/fabric etc is glued. Liner is flocked card from the looks. Pics in case it helps further:

 

interesting .....nice glass

 

Yep, the case looked deco period to me, seen lots of silver cruet sets etc in very similar boxes. But the glasses just look too manufactured to be from the period, so I have been stumped. The glasses are very well made but something seems off. I may just split the difference and go mid-century I guess.

I think the chance of someone having a set of these from the 60's then coming across a box from the 20's or 30's that magically fits perfectly seems somewhat unlikely. The glasses also look unused.

 

I see a plain rectangular case with rounded corners - to my eye, not anything exclusive to Art Deco. Personally, would think 1950s-60s Czech, original fitted case - I like a pretty harlequin set...

~Cheryl

 

I agree with Cheryl. I've seen cases like this with George VI silver. And also yes to Bohemian harlequin set. Very popular in the sixties as wedding gifts.

USSR era boxes can often look of an older manufacture. My dad ran a packaging company: the machinery here was way more modern and the designs more innovative.

 

Many thanks, and that would be a better fit as I can't see the glasses being Deco period. Shame there isn't a makers sticker. I can't say I have ever seen a set in this style of box before, it is rather flat considering the contents too.

 

Late '50s Moser collector's set in a similar shape case:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/383457901097




~Cheryl

 

Against my better judgement, probably, I, well, happen to be kind of collecting that kind of glass (in blue, no less!), none has come in fitted boxes, but your box "looks" like turn of the century to WWII (and if I may say so, with a German tint), but you have to consider in Europe, and not only the Soviet parts, they pretty much remained in design limbo until the late fifties. This harequin set looks Czech, as Cheryl said, but the Italians and French made very similar things (and were later still produced in Argentina of all places).