This 19th-century silver box was once carried by a well-to-do lady to escape everyday smells! These tiny boxes would be filled with a little sponge, perfumed with perfume that was known as 'l'eau du rheine' or queenswater. In Dutch, this French term was muddled into the phonetic 'loderein' so they are also known as 'loderein boxes'.
This particular marquise-shaped box is decorated with a pattern of flowers and scrollwork. The bottom is inscribed with a stipple-engraving, likely naming its original owner: 'J. Balsen'.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Size: 35 x 42 x 30 mm.
Weight: 12.20 grams
Age: Hallmarked 'H', which was used in 1743 and 1760.
Hallmarks It carries the city mark for Dokkum and the maker's mark for Claas Krans, a silversmith who operated in Dokkum between 1738 and 1764. The two tiny star-shaped hallmarks at the rim tell us it was assayed as below 800/1000 silver.
Condition: In good antique condition with signs of wear, including little dents and scuffs, consistent with age. These can be seen in the pictures.
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