Counter boxes are generally tubular in shape, approximately one-and-a-half inches high and about one inch in diameter, though sometimes less. Lid might be sparingly decorated, perhaps with floral engravings, piercing, or embossed with an impression of the sovereign’s bust. The exterior of the circular body was often strengthened by ribbing. The counters, which were decorated in a similar fashion to the lid, were used instead of money in games. They might also, therefore, resemble thinner versions of contemporary coins. Their number varied but it was seldom less than 20. Sides of the boxes were also sometimes pierced.

Patch boxes

Antique Collector MagazineHan’t I got too many beauty spots on? In my mind now, my face looks just like a plumcake’ (1706, Mrs Centlivre, The Platonick Lady). The lady might well have been right, for patches were applied to the face with considerably more enthusiasm than discretion in many cases, which accounted for some bizarre effects. Stars, crescents, lozenges, half-moons and circular spots were commonplace enough, applied lavishly usually with the aid of mastik, but even more outrageous were the mammoth varieties like a horsedrawn carriage perhaps galloping across the forehead, or a ship in full sail rounding the nose like the Cape of Good Hope. Such items of facial fantasy were of great importance and were carefully kept by the wealthy in small silver patch boxes. These were simple in the beginning, some dating from the seventeenth century, but gradually became more ornate, though never too much so, as the following century progressed.

Patch boxes were mostly circular, ranging in size from tiny examples, measuring approximately three quarters-of-an-inch in diameter and about half-an-inch deep, to around one inch in diameter and about the same depth. Some might be a little larger in diameter. Their pull-off lids might be simply decorated with a small amount of engraving, which sometimes appeared on the sides and around the base of the box too. During the later decades of the eighteenth century certain larger sizes were also introduced including, in about the 1790s, an elliptical example, often superbly bright-cut with floral and foliate motifs and measuring about three-and-a-half inches in length. These were also sometimes of silver-gilt and might well have served other uses, for the fashion for the patch began to dwindle at about this time. Look for hallmarks inside the box on the base or the lid. You may not find a full set, but you should find some. Make sure the lid pulls off easily, as it may be either too tight — usually the case — or too loose. It should fit perfectly; if this is not the case, then the box may have been damaged at some time, a frequent occurrence with such small and fragile objects. Patch box decoration, although sparse, roughly followed contemporary styles of fashion. Early examples were usually hammered up from the flat while later boxes were joined at a seam and soldered. Patch boxes were popular subjects from the early days of Sheffield plate.

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Counter boxes