Product Details
THORNHILL
A RARE AND EXQUISITE MINIATURE STERLING SILVER SIX-DIAL GAME COUNTER,
both front and rear plates and main body with makers mark H.W.D. (for Henry Williams Dee) and London hallmarks (no date letter), the left side of the body engraved 'THORNHILL. 144. NEW BOND STRT.', six ratchet dials, the front and rear plates marked 'PHEASANT', 'WOODCOCK', 'HARES', 'PARTRIDGES', 'SNIPES' and 'RABBITS', and each numbered up to 30, suspension ring, measuring just 2in. in length and 3/4in. across
Provenance: The Thornhill company dates back to 1734, based at 137 Bond Street London, specialising in high end cutlery under the name Joseph Gibbs. by 1805 James Thornhill was running the company under the name Morley and Thornhill and the company moved to 144 New Bond Street in 1810. By 1823 the company was re-named John James Thornhill & Co. Following the death of his father in 1848, Walter Thornhill took over his father's silversmith and cutlery business and began expanding into other luxury goods such as dressing cases, writing boxes and desks. He won prizes at the Great Exhibition in 1851, The Paris 1855 International Exposition, the International Exhibition of 1862 and multiple medals at the Paris 1878 Exposition and his clientele extended to The Royal Household of Queen Victoria, being granted Royal Warrants of appointment to the Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales. Between 1875 and 1885, Albert Barker was deeply involved in the business (inventor of the Barker pathfinder). The company expanded to 145 New Bond Street in 1878 and became a Limited company in 1895, opening a new premises at No. 9 High Street, Kensington. The company ceased trading in 1912.
Henry Williams Dee is recorded as being registered in April 1867
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Estimate £2,000-3,000