Liverpool Collegiate School Vinaigrette, 1843

This is a large & extremely rare castle top vinaigrette with a scene of the Liverpool Collegiate School in high relief to the cover. This good sized Victorian vinaigrette is of the very highest quality with a superbly detailed crisp scene. The underside of the box is engine turned around a shield-shaped vacant cartouche (neither engraved nor erased) to the centre. The interior is gilt and the hinged grille is expertly pierced and engraved with floral scrolls around a central flower head. Made by Nathaniel Mills, the most important Birmingham box maker of the 19th century, this outstanding piece is in superb condition throughout.

The scene depicted shows the Liverpool Collegiate School (please see drawing). The institution was opened in the year of this vinaigrette, 1843, by the future Prime Minister and citizen of Liverpool, William Gladstone. The school began life as an all-boys grammar school and the building, designed by architect Harvey Lonsdale Elmes, is a fabulous example of the Tudor Gothic style. This vinaigrette was no doubt made to celebrate the opening of the school and possibly given to one of the attending dignitaries or school masters.

Please refer to Wikipedia at this page for further information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool_Collegiate_School