Presented is a wonderful American silver lancet case. This piece dates to around the mid 1700s, and we believe it was made by James Elfreth. Whatever the case, it is certainly a colonial American piece. The case is finely made, with decorative reeding around the lid, middle, and bottom. One side has a finely engraved crest of a hand holding a cutlass atop a Scottish style belt-encircled cartouche. Inside the cartouche is a monogram of RA in Gothic script, against a textured background. Above the crest is the Latin motto, 'Dirigat Deus.' This translates to 'May God direct.' This crest and motto is associated with the Allan name.
This piece is in great overall condition. There are a few minor dings here and there, as you'd expect from a piece of this age. There is an old solder repair to the bottom of the case. There are no splits, no breaks, no chips, no dents, no cracks, no monograms, no monogram removals, and no other repairs.
The case is stamped on the bottom with a maker's mark of JE, twice. We believe this is the mark for James Elfreth, who was active circa 1750-1765. We can't be sure this is the maker, as J and E are extremely common initials in maker's marks, and not all marks from this time period are recorded, not by a long shot.
The case measures about 2 5/8 by 1 3/8 inches, LxW.
The case weighs 23.3 grams.
-jm
