This is a wonderful example of a classical Dutch Marriage Casket. Unusually, this is not imported but hallmarked for London 1900 with the maker''s mark of Harold Child. There are corresponding hallmarks on the lid also.The casket features a typical domed lid and is beautifully decorated with a vase of flowers on both front and back, with a bird and kangaroo (or maybe a long-eared squirrel?!) on the ends. It sits well on 4 small square pads and the silver is in an excellent condition.In the 16th century, courting rites in the Dutch province of Friesland stated that if a boy were to really like a girl, and maybe even want to marry her, he would first have to present her with a coin. The girl could either accept or reject this coin; acceptance would signify that the couple were formally engaged. Unfortunately for the men of Friesland some 16th century maidens insisted on playing hard to get. This is where the idea of the ‘knottekistje’ begins to come into effect. The man in qu...