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ID #SA1229138
FOR SALE
£465
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Sterling Silver Fosters Fly Fishing Thumb Magnifier 1927 Rare Antique
For sale by The Silver Squirrel
for sale €544     $591
£465
The Silver Squirrel

The Silver Squirrel

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jun 2021
Browse dealers 159 items
Id #SA1229138
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Sterling Silver Fosters Fly Fishing Thumb Magnifier 1927 Rare Antique

1900 - 1920
Description

A very rare English antique solid sterling silver fly fishing thumb magnifying glass. It is hallmarked for Sheffield 1927 with the maker being William Hutton & Sons Ltd. It is what is called a Fosters of Ashbourne Thumb Magnifier for tying or making flies. You may occasionally see these in silver plate but I've never seen one in sterling silver before. It has been superbly designed and is in super condition being free from cracks splits holes and repairs, just a tiny chip see final photo. The glass measures 1.75 inches (4.4cm) across and weighs 44 grams excluding the case. A very nice quality piece.

Date of Manufacture

The Silver Squirrel has dated this Silver Thumb Magnifier Glass to the 1920s.

Independent Date Guide ID 09603966
Dealer's Item Date1920s
Sellingantiques Date1920s
Sellingantiques agingItem is 99 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 1920s:
Sheffield assay office date letter k: struck in 1927.
Maker's mark for William Hutton & Sons: active Sheffield silversmiths.
Slotted cheese-head machine screws: early twentieth-century mechanical assembly.
Fitted presentation case with silk and velvet lining: tailored period housing.

This Independent Date Guide was compiled by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. It works only from the photographs shown on this page and is never told the date the dealer has declared. It is a guide, not a guarantee of age, and occasional errors can occur.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1229138
Dealers Internal Reference
386/225/89
Dealers Notes

LOTS MORE ANTIQUE & MODERN SILVER ITEMS OUR WEB SITE http://the-silver-squirrel.com

& OUR EBAY SHOP thesilversquirrel

Weights and measurements are approximate.

We accept bank transfer, please connect us for bank details.

Free UK Tracked 24 delivery.

Worldwide International Tracked shipping £15 flat rate (we will combined shipping costs).

Antiques over 100 years old are now TARIFF FREE to the USA.

We aim to dispatched within one working day.

30-day money back guarantee.

Any enquiries please email thesilversquirrel@btinternet.com

Description
A very rare English antique solid sterling silver fly fishing thumb magnifying glass. It is hallmarked for Sheffield 1927 with the maker being William Hutton & Sons Ltd. It is what is called a Fosters of Ashbourne Thumb Magnifier for tying or making flies. You may occasionally see these in silver plate but I've never seen one in sterling silver before.
“
It has been superbly designed and is in super condition being free from cracks splits holes and repairs, just a tiny chip see final photo.
The Silver Squirrel

The glass measures 1.75 inches (4.4cm) across and weighs 44 grams excluding the case. A very nice quality piece.

Date of Manufacture

The Silver Squirrel has dated this Silver Thumb Magnifier Glass to the 1920s.

Independent Date Report ID 09603966
Dealer's Item Date1920s
Sellingantiques dating1920s
Sellingantiques agingItem is 99 years old
ResultsDates match
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 1920s:
Sheffield assay office date letter k: struck in 1927.
Maker's mark for William Hutton & Sons: active Sheffield silversmiths.
Slotted cheese-head machine screws: early twentieth-century mechanical assembly.
Fitted presentation case with silk and velvet lining: tailored period housing.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1229138
Dealers Internal Ref
386/225/89
The Silver Squirrel
The Silver Squirrel
Sellingantiques verified Since Jun 2021
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the The Silver Squirrel Profile Page

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A sterling silver thumb magnifier glass with an adjustable arm clip rested inside a black velvet and silk lined presentation box.
1 / 10
Archive I A sterling silver thumb magnifier glass with an adjustable arm clip rested inside a black velvet and silk lined presentation box.

Sterling Silver Fosters Fly Fishing Thumb Magnifier 1927 Rare Antique

Archive II A sterling silver thumb magnifier glass with an adjustable arm clip rested inside a black velvet and silk lined presentation box. View II
Archive III A sterling silver thumb magnifier glass with an adjustable arm clip rested inside a black velvet and silk lined presentation box. View III
Archive IV A sterling silver thumb magnifier glass with an adjustable arm clip rested inside a black velvet and silk lined presentation box. View IV
Archive V A sterling silver thumb magnifier glass with an adjustable arm clip rested inside a black velvet and silk lined presentation box. View V
Archive VI A sterling silver thumb magnifier glass with an adjustable arm clip rested inside a black velvet and silk lined presentation box. View VI
Archive VII A sterling silver thumb magnifier glass with an adjustable arm clip rested inside a black velvet and silk lined presentation box. View VII
Archive VIII A sterling silver thumb magnifier glass with an adjustable arm clip rested inside a black velvet and silk lined presentation box. View VIII
Archive IX A sterling silver thumb magnifier glass with an adjustable arm clip rested inside a black velvet and silk lined presentation box. View IX
Archive X A sterling silver thumb magnifier glass with an adjustable arm clip rested inside a black velvet and silk lined presentation box. View X
Enlarged Archival View
The Silver Squirrel

The Silver Squirrel
Telephone 07858 061802
Location
West Lindsey
Lincolnshire
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/thesilversquirrel
Verified Since Jun 2021
Items For Sale 159
Items Sold 2,816
The Silver Squirrel
The Silver Squirrel
Verified Since Jun 2021
View Dealer Info
Location: West Lindsey, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/thesilversquirrel
Verified
Jun 2021
For Sale
159
Sold
2,816
A sterling silver thumb magnifier glass with an adjustable arm clip rested inside a black velvet and silk lined presentation box.
STERLING SILVER FOSTERS FLY FISHING THUMB MAGNIFIER 1927 RARE ANTIQUE
Ref: SA1229138
A sterling silver thumb magnifier glass with an adjustable arm clip rested inside a black velvet and silk lined presentation box.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
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Detail View 8
Detail View 9
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectMagnifying Glasses
  • Period1900 - 1920
  • StyleInterwar Period
  • MaterialSterling Silver, Glass, Leatherette, Velvet, Silk
  • ColourSilver, Black
  • MotifsAdjustable thumb clip, swivel joint mechanism, optical glass lens

This English 1920s gentleman's library magnifying glass originates from the interwar period, specifically hallmarked for Sheffield 1927 by William Hutton & Sons Ltd. It is made of solid sterling silver and glass, housed inside a black presentation box lined with white silk and black velvet. The design includes an adjustable silver thumb clip and a swivel joint mechanism holding an optical glass lens. Visible details comprise metal hardware, screws, a metallic button clasp on the box rim, and slight stains on the white silk lid lining. Today, this piece serves as a functional decorative object for an office desk, study, or library display cabinet, and can be used for close-up viewing or hobby work. The glass measures 4.4 cm across.

FAQs

A thumb magnifier is a specialised optical tool created for fly fishers to attach directly onto their thumb or hand, allowing hands-free magnification while threading hooks and tying small flies at the waters edge.

These items were predominantly constructed from sterling silver, nickel-plated brass, or brass alloys, paired with optical glass lenses and adjustable friction joints or screw clamps.

Authentic British pieces from this era feature full hallmarking stamped on the silver casing or arm, including a makers mark, town mark, lion passant for sterling purity, and a date letter corresponding to the specific year of production.

An antique silver optical instrument can be presented open inside its original fitted velvet case on a desk, bookshelf, or within a glazed curio cabinet alongside historic sporting items.

Silver components should be gently wiped with a silver polishing cloth to remove tarnish, avoiding liquid dips or harsh abrasive cleaners that could damage optical lenses or original velvet case linings.
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