1700's or 1800's Sterling Silver or white Gold small jewelry box???? Need Help identfying the marks!

[Kaloni Brincefield]

The markings on the bottom are: GOLD J ,picture of a animal, and a letter inside a circle. The GOLD markings made me think it was gold at first but now I'm thinking it may be the Blacksmiths name and it is Sterling Silver? If anyone knows anything about the silver markings on the bottom or if it is even silver, please let me know. Would be grateful for any info! Thank you!

[carolyn]

Your box is neither Gold or sterling silver & a newer white metal piece from the 1970s -90s

The letter in the circle is a "C" for copyright

The name  is a makernot the metal content but hard to make it out . Although beautiful this is a common piece.

If you Google metal heart jewelry box you will find quite a few

[Deb Jani]

I think this is a Vintage Jennings Brothers Trinket Box. It is made of cast pot metal with a gold wash or plating.The marking after the J should be a B. Is the box quite heavy? That would be a sure sign it is pot metal or spelter. They are quite collectable, but I am afraid they don't bring nearly what you would hope if they were REALLY gold or even silver. It is very nice to find one in this good of condition, the lids are prone to snapping off the hinges and the plating is often worn.

I stole this from an ebay listing:

The Jennings Brothers began their metal-work foundry in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1891 and remained open until the early 1950s. Jennings Brothers produced some of the most finely crafted art metal pieces that exist to this day. Their product line ranged from bookends to candlesticks to animal figurines, etc. Their methods of production required meticulous techniques which did not lend themselves to machine-directed mass production, but rather depended upon the handiwork of expert artists, sculptors and metal craftsman. Jennings Brothers metalwork is highly prized and their distinctive "JB" mark, which marked all of their products, is highly sought after by collectors world-wide. Jennings employed many new immigrants to the U.S. and their designs had an international flair.

Jennings, at one point, had over 3000 pieces in their catalog. Their business peaked in the 1920 and 1930s.  All Jennings Brothers pieces were made of cast white metal or spelter... Although they are often mistaken for bronze or even silver...  because of their high quality crafting and fine rich patination . There is no other major metalwork foundry from this era with finishes as durable as Jennings Bros and the complexity of their designs is highly prized.

[carolyn]

I Think this is a bit newer than a Jennings Bros..JMHO...The floral relief on the bottom is not consistant with their work

[Kaloni Brincefield]

Thank you.

It has to be a older piece because the woman that owned this died before the 70's and her husband gave it to her and he died before her. Thanks for the replies they were very helpful!!!

[Kaloni Brincefield]

Thanks so much!!!

[carolyn]

Could be from the 1960s if that is a time line you have ..It is definetely not the 1800's

or sterling silver..

Beautiful.!!

 

I see a crack in the cover..This will effect any value it has..

[Deb Jani]

OOPs - didn't see the crack until I lightened it up.  That seriously impacts the resale value.

[Kerin Lynch]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-Antique-Silver-Heart-Shaped-Ornate-Flor... --

Despite the title, these hearts were made in the 1960s. Your's is even later, prob 70's as the quality changed as time went on. I've had at least 15 of them over the years

 

 

[AntoinettesWhims]

They are called casket boxes.  Here is a nice guide from ebay describing them.

http://reviews.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-JEWELRY-BOXES-CASKETS?ugid=10000000...

You can see the difference in the quality of those comparatively.  Yours appears to be a reproduction piece from the 1970's.  They were a popular gift item then, made a pretty jewelry presentation box.