A Victorian Silver Novelty Atomiser

Modelled as a 19th Century fire hydrant. Made by E H. Stockwell, London, 1891

By the last quarter of the nineteenth century, the Victorians revelled in their love of making everyday objects in novelty shapes.
Edward Stockwell specialised in the manufacture of ‘presentation swords and cup and bottle mounts in gold and silver’. A great deal of Stockwell’s work was retailed by W. Thornhill & Co. who were renowned for the novelties they sold which were always of the highest quality. Thornhill were famous for their Norwegian and Albanian chatelaine belts to which they continuously added new novelty appendages, particularly prior to Christmas.