Crocodile Skin Desk Folio with Hallmarked Solid Silver Mounts, Birmingham 1907

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Crocodile Skin Desk Folio with Hallmarked Solid Silver Mounts, Birmingham 1907:
$142.14

Up for sale this superb and quite unusual Crocodile Skin Desk Folio or Document Walletwith Hallmarked Solid Silver Mounts, including an Armorial Crest, Birmingham 1907 by Charles Penny Brown.

This item would have sat on a desk and contained writing paper and envelopes, and would have been opened out to write on offering a soft surface.

The folio has a superb aged colour and patina to the front, which has been in the sun. The back retains the original dark green, however the front has faded to a lovely soft deep brown. The corners are very elegantly shaped in solid silver, with clear hallmarks and markers marks. To the centre of the front ther is an Armorial Crest of a lion in a crown or coronet in high relief casting - the detail on this is really amazing and its lovely to have it. This is something that would have been commisioned.

Inside, the folio has pockets and compartments in leather.

Condition is good for something that would have had regular use, this some damage to the edges where the stiching has come undone in areas and there are some losses to the Crocodile however this is normal. It could be repaired however I would leave this alone. Similarly the fading to the front is something I would look for in a genuine peice like this - recolouring it would ruin it. There are ink stains to the interior, again expected with use. This is a genuine antique folio, which has not been messed about with or restored in any way - the best way to buy an antique. All the silver is intact as shown, as are the fixings.

This item is amazingly tactile and lovely to hold and see. It will make an excellent show piece on a desk, or to contain important documents or for a collector. Made by a good silversmith and using expensive materials - Crocodile was seen as a top end hide material.

Measurements (closed) 8.75\" wide x 10.5\".

Charles Penny Brown worked in Birmingham for a relatively short period between 1890 and 1909, producing wallets, folios such as this and novelty items rather than the traditional \"tableware\".