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Cowrie Shell snuff box

Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 11:29 am
by EmmaW
Hi everyone

I'd really appreciate your help with these marks. We originally thought they were South African but an expert has said they are not (apparently the wheels on South African wagons are all the same size). Anyone have any ideas...?

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Thank you so much

Emma

Re: Cowrie Shell snuff box

Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 12:26 pm
by oel
Hi Emma,

To my knowledge the Old Dutch wagons, in Dutch called huifkar, often had a pair of oversized back wheels compared to the smaller front pair. I wouldn’t rule out South African or America in connection with (Dutch) Europian settlers.


Oel.

Re: Cowrie Shell snuff box

Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 12:40 pm
by EmmaW
Thanks Oel

I appreciate your input but my expert is THE expert on Cape silver and if he says it isn't Cape then I'm not going to contradict him!

It's obviously colonial or provincial - we're just not sure where. The wheels could be a bit of artistic license... As for the marks they seem pretty generic with the head and lion passant so unless anybody has seen the exact same marks on a similar item I fear I may be out of luck.

Again, thanks for your help