Antique Art Nouveau Solid Silver Sugar Box 1900 Germany - Carl Stock for Bruckmann and Söhne

A rare and important antique rectangular casket raised on four triangular feet and with tapered sides. The box features embossed panels to each of the sides with the front and back showing a female mask with eyes downcast surrounded by tendrils of hair amongst leaves and flowers, and the sides showing a curving dragonfly amongst further foliage. The top is fitted with a hinged lid with a floral motif with raised and arched leaves to form a bifurcated handle to the lid which opens to reveal a gilded interior.

- designed in 1898 by Carl Stock for Bruckmann and Söhne of Heilbronn and exhibited with great success at the World Fair ( Exposition Universelle ) in Paris in 1900 - it was one of the few Exhibits from the German Pavillion to be documented in “Deutsche Kunst und Dekoration” which detailed some of the highlights of the German display - the importance of exhibits such as  this cannot be overstated as they helped to define taste and design for the decade to come

- this example is overstamped to the side with London marks for George Bedingham, a well known and important importer of Continental silver novelty items, and significantly F format import hallmarks for 1900, it also shows another set of clear import hallmarks for the same year struck to the inner lip of the lid. Further to these there is also a very small cursive E mark to the centre of the shaped base and the number 1 stamped to one of the feet, the significance of which has not yet been established - total weight 361grms - overall dimensions 140 x 106 x 74mm - 1900 Germany 

Condition notes: in excellent condition with a pin hole to the tip of the nose of each mask and with no other issues to note, lid closes tightly and gilding is still intact inside.