A very unusual Victorian sterling silver chatelaine with Singer pattern compass and nautical theme by Saunders & Shepherd Rd No 269043 c1895

Gentleman’s silver chatelaine having ⅞” compass with mother of pearl floating card, hand decorated with Singer Patent pattern displaying cardinals and intercardinals. Jewelled suspension, low dome bevelled glass. The compass at the centre of a 2” diameter silver life buoy with finely crafted rope decoration, the verso with belt clip and stamped with hallmarked for silver, Saunders & Shepherd, London and 1895, further carrying registered design number “269043.”

Suspended from the lower part of the lifebuoy are three silver chains, every other link formed as a ‘rigging block’, each hallmarked for silver. The two outer chains measure 5¾” including the swivel clips, the inner one 6¼”.

Three accessories are attached to these chains:

Decorated silver vesta case, striker to bottom, with initials “CER” to centre, having hand engraved foliate decoration and hallmarked tor Samuel Levi, Birmingham, 1906

Silver cheroot holder case with gilded interior and hallmarks for Birmingham, 1906 and “WH” (we are not yet able to confidently confirm this silversmith)

Nickel-plated bosun’s call or whistle

Condition: The lifebuoy chatelaine in very good condition, with no dents and only a very few small superficial marks. The vesta case with light marks, and the cheroot holder case with marks and small dents, commensurate the age and use, the bosun’s call in good working condition.

Comments: A chatelaine is a decorative belt hook or clasp worn at the waist with a series of chains suspended from it. More commonly used by women, each chain is mounted with useful household appendages such as scissors, thimbles, watches, keys, smelling salts, and household seals. A gentleman’s chatelaine is far scarcer, and would carry vesta cases, cigarette or cheroot holder cases, small knives, etc.

Saunders & Shepherd was founded in London in 1869 by Cornelius Desormeaux Saunders Sr. and James Francis Hollings Shepherd at 23 Bartlett’s Buildings in Holborn Circus. The firm quickly became renowned as manufacturers and innovators of high quality gold and silver jewellery, opening offices in India, Canada and Australia.

This gentleman’s silver chatelaine is a wonderful example of Saunders & Shepherd’s art, and very collectable.