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Antique English Brass String Holder

Antique English Brass String Holder

Regular price $185.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $185.00 USD
Sale Sold out

A cast brass string box built for a desk or a shop counter, made to hold a ball of twine out of sight and feed it up through the little spool guide on the lid. The whole surface is worked in scrolling leaves and flowers in the Renaissance Revival taste, with plain shield cartouches left blank so an owner could have them engraved. It still keeps its ball of string inside, threaded and ready, right where the last person to use it left it.

Details
Dimensions
3 in. diameter x 4 in. H
Weight
Heavy for its size, solid cast brass
Surface
Original brass with warm aged tone, light verdigris spotting to the base
Primary Material
Cast and chased brass
Period
Antique
Date
Early 20th century, per dealer attribution at time of acquisition
Origin
English, assessed from the blank shield cartouches and supported by acquisition in England
Style or Movement
Renaissance Revival
Also Known As
string box, twine holder, ficelle holder
Maker, Mark, or Attribution
No maker's mark or number found. Dated to the early 1900s on the attribution of the English dealer from whom it was acquired
Construction or Technique
Cast body and lid with chased and repoussé decoration, friction-fit lift-off lid, tubular spool guide finial through which the string feeds
Function
Desk or counter string dispenser
Condition

Good and honest condition throughout. The brass has a warm, aged tone with some darkening in the recesses of the decoration, which is normal for old brass and part of the look. There is light green verdigris spotting around the base rim, visible in the photographs. The plain shield cartouches are blank and were never engraved. The lid lifts off with a friction fit and sits correctly. The spool guide on top is intact and the string feeds through it as intended. The interior is plain brass with expected age spotting. The ball of string shown is included. No cracks, no splits, no repairs found. Please review all photographs closely, as they form part of this description.

Shipping & Returns

All antique and vintage items are shipped from our warehouse in Bluffdale, Utah. Each piece is carefully packed by hand using archival materials and custom crating when necessary.

Shipping costs are calculated at checkout based on the size and weight of the item. Local pickup is available at the AMD Warehouse.

All sales of antique and vintage items are final due to their unique, one-of-a-kind nature. Illuminé candles and The Collector's Guide may be returned within 14 days of delivery if unopened and in original condition.

If your piece arrives damaged, please photograph the damage immediately (including packaging), contact us within 48 hours at austynmariedesign@gmail.com, and do not discard any packaging.

Read the full return and shipping policy

Important Info About Antique & Vintage

Every antique and vintage item we carry has lived a life before arriving in your home. These are not factory-made products. They are objects with history, character, and the marks of time.

Age-appropriate wear, patina, minor imperfections, and signs of previous use or repair are inherent to antique and vintage items and are not considered defects. These characteristics are part of what makes each piece unique and are often what give it its beauty and value.

We describe the condition of each piece as accurately as possible in the listing. If you have specific questions about a piece before purchasing, please reach out. We are always happy to provide additional photos or details.

Colors may appear slightly different on screen due to monitor settings and photography lighting. We do our best to represent each item accurately.

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