Description
Overview
A distinctive vintage Italian egg-shaped hinged pill box or miniature keepsake box, fashioned in 925-marked sterling silver with vivid emerald-green enamel-style panels beneath a raised silver lattice. Its softly domed, fully rounded egg form and geometric surface make it a striking example of mid-century Florentine decorative craftsmanship.
Florentine Maker's Hallmark
The interior carries the silver-fineness stamp 925 and a maker's registration mark read as 302 FI (sometimes visually transcribed as 302 FL). The documented Florentine registration 302 FI belongs to Bigiotterie Il Giardino di Casamonti Fulvio, Piazza del Carmine 1, Florence, registered on 8 January 1957. This historical identification is based on the reported reading of the hallmark; buyers should examine the close-up photographs of the actual marks.
Dating: Traditionally attributed to the 1960s, likely late 1960s or early 1970s if the hallmark includes the five-pointed star introduced with the post-1968 Italian marking system. The workshop's 1957 registration date is not an exact manufacture date.
Key Details
- Object: Egg-shaped hinged pill box / trinket box / collectible miniature silver box
- Origin: Florence, Italy (attributed through the maker's mark)
- Period: Mid-20th century; circa late 1960s–early 1970s attribution
- Maker: Attributed to Bigiotterie Il Giardino di Casamonti Fulvio
- Maker's mark: 302 FI (Florence workshop registration; visually may resemble 302 FL)
- Silver standard: Marked 925 sterling silver; not independently assayed
- Exterior: Emerald-green enamel-style square panels and raised silver lattice / crosshatch motif
- Construction: Two rounded egg-shaped halves, hinged opening
- Interior: Silver-tone recessed geometric pattern
- Dimensions and weight: Not supplied; available upon request
- Inventory reference: SP-SD-011
Design & Collector Appeal
Unlike a conventional flat oval pill box, this piece has an unmistakable three-dimensional egg-shaped silhouette. A continuous lattice of intersecting silver bands creates a checkerboard over the glowing green surface, wrapping around both sides. The contrast between its sculptural form and meticulous geometric detailing gives it strong decorative appeal on a dressing table, writing desk or in a collection of Italian silver objets d'art.
The green treatment appears enamel-like in photographs; its precise material and technique have not been independently verified. No Fabergé attribution or relationship is implied.
Condition
Vintage pre-owned condition, with light scratches, natural age-related patina and localized marks or residue around the hinge and inner edges. The box is photographed both open and closed. Review all product photographs, including the maker's and silver marks, as part of the description. No original box or paperwork is documented.
Authenticity, Shipping & Care
421Luxury guarantees an accurate, transparent presentation of the collectible and its documented markings. The 925 and 302 FI attribution is based on visible/reported hallmarks, not laboratory testing or a surviving factory certificate. Carefully packed and shipped worldwide from Turin, Italy, with signature-required delivery where available. Keep dry and avoid abrasive polishing or chemical cleaners on decorative green panels. Please contact us with any questions before purchase.
