This exceptional and unusual, antique Victorian English cast sterling silver presentation centrepiece has been realistically modelled in the form of a railway carriage*.
The body of this antique silver carriage has a rectangular form with an elevated hallmarked gallery border, realistically modelled in the form of the carriage's struts and braces.
Either side of this gallery features an exceptional contemporary engraved coat of arms, one pertains to the Borough of Morpeth / County Northumberland and features the Latin motto 'Inter sylvas et flumina habitans' - Living among woods and streams.
The other coat of arms pertains to the Trevelyan family; it incorporates the crest of two arms in armour embowed, the hands supporting a bezant, thereon a parrot statant, all above the Old English motto 'Tyme tryeth troth' - Time tests faith**.
The ends of this exceptional example of antique silverware feature cast sterling silver buffer stops flanking the contemporary engraved initials 'RW' to one end, and 'JT'*** to the other.
The surface of the body bears the contemporary engraved inscription 'Presented to Pauline Lady Trevelyan on the Occasion of opening the first section of the Wansbeck Railway, April 21 1862'.****
The railway carriage is supported by a hallmarked sterling silver chassis framework, complete with the wheelset including functional wheels and ornamental axle boxes bearing the numeral '7'.
This antique sterling silver carriage centrepiece sits to a bespoke later made oak wood presentation plinth, ornamented with a wooden railway track, realistically modelled with rails, fasteners, railroad ties.
The carriage model is fitted to the original oak wood storage/travel case ornamented with a brass carrying handle to the cover; the box is fitted with a locking mechanism, however there is no key.
This exceptional presentation piece was crafted by the renowned London silversmiths Edward & John Barnard.
* This style of carriage can be considered to be a freight carriage, otherwise known as freight car, goods wagon or truck.
** This may also be translated as 'Time tests truth' and 'Time test loyalty'.
*** It can be determined that these initials pertain to Paulina Jermyn, who married Sir Walter Calverley Trevelyan, 6th Baronet and became Pauline Jermyn, Lady Trevelyan; Paulina, who was known as Pauline, wanted to ensure the Jermyn surname survived, therefore added it as her second Christian name.
**** Pauline, Lady Trevelyan was a 19th century English painter who was a pioneer at creating Wallington Hall the centre of High Victorian cultural life. Her marriage to Sir Walter Calverley Trevelyan was an uncommon match, however they connected over their art enthused compatibility.
Sir Walter Calverley Trevelyan supported the construction of the Wansbeck or 'Wannie' Line as he felt this would benefit his estate due to the stations Scots Gap and Rothley. The Wansbeck Railway obtained consent in 1859 between Morpeth and Redesdale; it increased manoeuvrability for the connected network, and a boost for local economies.
Date: 1860
