Auction Catalogue

10 September 2019

Starting at 1:00 PM

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Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu

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Lot

№ 264

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10 September 2019

Estimate: £500–£700

A commemorative silver vesta case of Joseph Chamberlain, modelled as the head of the statesman, his hair swept back and wearing a monocle, the strike hinged to the base, and stamped to the underside: ‘IMSA CONVENTION LONDON 2000’, hallmarked for Jenkins William Evans, Birmingham, with the millennium hallmark for 2000, height 4.8cm. £500-£700

The commemorative match safe (or vesta) was especially made for the International Match Safe Association by J. W. Evans & Sons Ltd, from their original dies, to commemorate the 3rd Annual Convention held in London in September 2000.

A total of two 18ct gold and 34 sterling silver vestas were manufactured.

Jenkins William Evans was a die-sinker who established his business in 1880 at 54 Albion Street, Birmingham. Evans registered the design for this vesta which included the head of the Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, as No. 96937 on 28th March 1888.

J. W. Evans ceased trading in 2008, and the original dies were destroyed. In 2011 was taken over by English Heritage and is now a museum.

Joseph Chamberlain (1836-1914), was the son of a shoe manufacturer in London, and entered the family business at the age of 16. Two years later he moved to Birmingham to join his cousin’s screw-making business, where his energy and organisational skills eclipsed that of his competitors and by the age of 38 he was able to retire with a substantial fortune.
In 1873 he was elected Mayor of Birmingham, and in 1876 elected as the Liberal member of parliament for Birmingham. In 1882, he was appointed as President of the Board of Trade in Gladstone’s Liberal government. He moved his political allegiance to the Conservatives, becoming Secretary of State for the Colonies in Lord Salisbury’s government. After his death, his two sons followed him into politics, with his youngest Neville becoming Prime Minister in May 1937.