AboutBill and Sally Jarrett Expertise We are collectors, hobbyists and dealers in memorabilia and antiques - especially antique vintage and costume jewelry items. For 10 years we owned an antique shop here in Central Florida but retired and reopened a site on the internet that specializes mostly in antique jewelry and accessories such as perfume bottles, etc. Bill is informed on general antiques specializing in china and silver or sterling tablewares while Sally tends to jewelry and paper/advertising ephemera. We receive a lot of general questions from our site and would be glad to try and answer or give direction not considered for official appraisal purposes, i.e. estate or insurance.
Experience 10 years as antique shop owners
8 years as a jewelry designer supplying designs
to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and MGM as well
well as other limited outlets.
Question Hello. I recently was looking for old coins with my metal detector when I dug up a small cosmetic looking box.It has stamped in the lower right hand corner the word STERLING. This is a heavy object and the size is approximately 2X3 inches and around 1/4 inch thick.I do not have a clue to the age or anything else to describe it.I know this is not much to go on but all I have. Do you have any idea ?
Thanks in advance.
Answer Hello Tom and thank you for your inquiry. It is difficult to tell much about the item without a hands-on examination or photo. However, it sounds like it may be a coin box or small ladies compact. Being marked "sterling" makes it of some value. You might try your local library for collectors books on ladies compacts. 1/4" thick wouldn't leave much room, so it may even be a stamp box. If you have a local antiques shop or jeweler, take it with you and ask if someone can identify it for you. Just a couple of ideas you might try. Enjoy your research and good luck !
