Victorian Chatelaine Spectacles Case

c. 1900
Subcollections
Overview

Silver Plated (EPNS) Victorian Spectacles case with a belt slide attached on chain. The case has been over polished and the base metal is now visible.

Historical information

Modern electroplating was invented by Italian Luigi V Brugnatelli in 1805 but the invention was suppressed for many years due to the fear of confusion between plated silver and sterling silver. Electroplating became commonplace after makers agreed to use hall markings e.g. EPNS (Electro Plated Nickel Silver) / EPBM (Electro Plated Britania Metal) to indicate to composition of the metal and differentiate from sterling silver.

The Electroplating process is where a thin layer of sterling silver is deposited electrolytically on a surface of base metal like nickel or britannium (a pewter alloy).

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-124-2020.453
Item type
Width
45 mm
Height or length
250 mm
Depth
19.9998 mm
Inscriptions and markings

EPNS

Contextual Information

This spectacle case could have been hung from a housekeepers belt with a chatelaine

Year
Primary significance criteria
Social or spiritual significance
Related Objects

Related Objects

Busselton Historical Society

Busselton Historical Society

Organisation Details
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Spectacles Case

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