Edwardian Card Case

This lovely Edwardian card case is something I've had for some time and have finally listed in my shop.

 

I spent some time researching this today and initially I was a little puzzled as to it's use. The tiny pockets inside are too small to hold much - but I managed to find some very similar items online. What would we do without Google I wonder?

 

 

Cases such as this would have held a small amount of money but were mainly used to carry calling cards, stamps, tickets and other small items. In Victorian and Edwardian times calling cards would have been used by any lady or gentleman of means and the etiquette of leaving cards when calling on friends and acquaintances was widely known.

 

 

This lovely example is made from crocodilian skin, most likely alligator, and has 925 silver trims on each corner on the front. The silver trims are each marked '.925' and 'S & Co', which stands for Steinhart & Co of 14 Newhall Street, Birmingham, England. Steinhart & Co imported items such as card cases, cigarette cases, etc., from 1900 to 1929 and the other marks on this piece, a triangle and a lower case 'g' indicate that it was probably made in 1906.

 

 

I love the aged look to this piece too. The alligator skin is shiny in places and a little dry in others, and the silver trims are tarnished almost to black. The stitching on one of the inside pockets is missing but the other is still intact. There's also some rusting to the metal frame but the push-in clasp works as if made yesterday and I think you'll agree, the overall effect is charming.