antique maltese filigree, card case

[claireg84]

Dear everyone, I came accross this filigree card case with maltese cross a couple of months ago in a market in Italy and being of maltese origin I decided to get it but the seller wasn't able to give me any info. She thought it was italian and told me they found in florence. The card case is 11 x 7 x 1,2 cm and weighs about 82 gr.

I tried to find some information on internet and books after having a better look at the very warn hallmarks the first one is completely worn out) but wasn't lucky.



Looking at the hallmarks and at the info in your website I can probably confirm what I thought, that it's maltese silver 925, but info on the period it was made or any other info would be greatly appreciated.
I'm sorry the picture of the marks isn't great but that's the best I could do, they are really worn out unfortunately.

Thanks for your time and for this nice website!!

Claire

[CardCaseForum]

Hi: In the 19th century, silver filigree card cases were produced mainly in Italy, Malta, Portugal, parts of central Europe, England and America. Pre-eminent for filigree work were the city of Genoa and the Island of Malta; articles from the 19th century note that the filigree work of the two places was indistinguishable and of fine quality. Several Genoese and Maltese firms exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Whilst the Maltese cross would indicate Malta as a place of manufacture, guide books of Genoa from mid/late 19th century pointed visitors in the direction of the 'Hôtel de la Croix de Malta', where the proprietor, Mr Felix Pernetti, had a shop selling filigree. It's possible that filigree was so closely associate with Malta (it was also known as Maltese work in the 19th century) that the Italians made filigree items incorporating the emblem, or that Maltese filigree was sold in Italy. My feeling is that your case is Maltese and from the shaped outline, I would suggest a date of approx. 1870-1880. Rgds, The Card Case Forum.