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Ball, Black Co. Sterling Silver Medallion Letter Opener Featuring Mars, C 1862

$695

£529.47

€604.26

CA$976.64

A$1,064.37

CHF 563.63

MX$12,784.15

NOK 7,135.65

SEK 6,560.52

DKK 4,513.12

About the Item

Ball, Black Co. Sterling Silver Medallion Letter Opener Featuring Mars, Circa 1862, 43 Grams A rare and refined example of American Civil War-era design, this sterling silver letter opener by Ball, Black Co. of New York dates to the 1860s and features a classical profile of Mars, the Roman god of war, framed in the firm’s celebrated Medallion motif. Cast in high relief, the helmeted male bust—bare-chested and stern—embodies the neoclassical fascination with antiquity and valor that defined mid-19th-century American decorative arts. The front of the handle displays the portrait medallion with a radiating ground, flanked by scrolled volutes and a floret detail at the mid-shaft. The reverse is engraved “E.R.C. from C.L.S.,” suggesting it was given as a meaningful gift—possibly to commemorate service or scholarship. Marked “Ball, Black Co. Sterling” with a clear “Patent 1862” stamp, the piece predates the firm's transition into what would later become Black, Starr Frost. Measuring approximately 6.75 inches in length, this letter opener balances historical depth with elegant form and remains fully functional for contemporary use.

Creator:
Ball Black Co. (Maker)
Dimensions:
Height: 0.25 in (6.35 mm)Width: 7.25 in (18.42 cm)Depth: 0.75 in (1.91 cm)
Style:
Neoclassical (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Sterling Silver,Cast,Engraved
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
Mid-19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1862
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
West Palm Beach, FL
Reference Number:
Seller: T32841stDibs: LU2592345271802

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