1887 William Summers London Sterling Silver Glass Hip Flask Cup Victorian

  
Antique Victorian glass travelling / hip flask with hallmarked sterling silver removable drinking cup, London 1887, attributed to silversmith William Summers. This is an original late-19th-century English flask comprising a clear glass bottle, removable sterling silver lower cup, and hinged metal stopper with original-style cork insert. The removable drinking cup bears a full set of London silver hallmarks. The marks are consistent with William Summers, London, 1887, including the sterling silver lion passant, London assay mark, date letter and Victorian duty mark. William Summers is a documented London silversmith whose work included silver-mounted flasks and related travelling accessories. A closely comparable Victorian silver-and-glass flask by William Summers, London 1887, also incorporating a removable silver base used as a drinking cup, has been catalogued by Sotheby's.

The front of the silver cup is finely engraved with Gothic-script initials, appearing to read J. The upper stopper/collar is unmarked and is therefore not being represented as sterling silver. It appears to be a silvered or base-metal fitting and shows age-related discoloration and oxidation.

The hinged stopper retains an old cork insert. Condition: Good antique condition for an item approximately 139 years old. The glass shows expected light surface wear consistent with age and use. Please examine all photographs carefully for scratches, tarnish, discoloration, wear to the metal fittings, cork condition and other signs of age.

No major cracks or breaks are apparent in the glass from visual inspection. The sterling silver cup shows normal surface marks and patina. It has not been aggressively polished. Removable silver cup height: 3.5.

A very attractive original Victorian gentleman's travelling flask and a collectible example of late-19th-century London silver.