Antique Silver Perfume Bottle by Sampson Mordan

Date: 1892

Maker: Sampson Mordan & Co

Country: England

Stock Number: 8241

Description

A delightful silver cylinder scent bottle, with a hinged flip top and glass stopper. In the original box. The bottle is finely engraved in the Kate Greenaway style, with two little girls sitting on a fence, the background decoration in aesthetic style features butterflies and flowers. Original gilt interior. The gilt exterior is worn. Height 5.4 cms. Diameter 2.1 cms. London 1892. Maker Sampson Mordan & Co.

Literature: Kate Greenaway was a prolific illustrator of children's' books, born in Hoxton in 1846, the daughter of an daughter of a draughtsman and engraver, John Greenaway. She popularised a style of drawing that is instantly recognisable as hers - delicate watercolours of children with animals and birds in the English countryside.

Between 1882 – 1884 Greenaway pictures appeared on Mordan scent bottles almost always with children in the foreground and a house or church in the background.

Biography

Sampson Mordan & Co

Sampson Mordan (1770-1843), apprenticed to the mechanic John Bramah, established his own business in 1815. The first patent for a propelling pencil was obtained in 1822 (his co-inventor was John Isaac Hawkins). In 1823 Mordan bought out the rights of Hawkins, and entered into partnership with Gabriel Riddle manufacturing silver mechanical pencils with the marking "SMGR” until 1836 when the partnership was dissolved and the business became S. Mordan & Co. Sampson Mordan died in 1843 and the business was taken over by his sons Sampson (Jr) and Augustus, They were later joined by Edmund George Johnson and Zachariah Watkins who retired in 1879. In 1898 the company became the limited liability company S. Mordan & Co Ltd. In 1933 the distribution rights on the propelling pencil business were given to L. G. Sloan Ltd, and in 1941, following the destruction of the factory by enemy bombing, the patents were sold to Edward Baker. The firm went into voluntary liquidation in 1952. In addition to pencils the firm had a large production line of small silver and gold items, most of them belonging to the type of "novelties" so popular at the end of the 19th/beginning of the 20th century. They were supplied to many retailers, including Asprey & Sons and the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co. Ltd. Sampson Mordan & Co was present at the 1851 London Great Exhibition and at the 1922 and 1929 British Industries Fair.

Condition

This pretty scent bottle is in very good condition with no damage or restoration. Stamped with clear and matching English silver hallmarks to both top and bottom. Original gilt interior. The gilt exterior is worn.

Please note that this item is not new and will show moderate signs of wear commensurate with age. Reflections in the photograph may detract from the true representation of this item.