Tiffany and Co Antique Sterling Silver Singing Mice Case, NYC, NY, c. 1882

Originally meant to hold cigarettes or cheroots, this rare and wonderful case is a rectangular box of considerable weight with an overall textured surface and acid-etched decoration.

Depicted on the front are three large mice singing below the lyrics "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." This whimsical scene has the threesome supporting each other and one mouse appears to be having difficulty - as if the three of them were out reveling a little too much. His tail curls down to form a G-clef on a musical staff with notes. The back is engraved 'J(G?)LB,' in the beautiful artistic script found on Tiffany's silver during this period. The interior retains its lovely gilding.

This wonderful case is marked 'TIFFANY & Co/ 6121 M 2539/ STERLING-SILVER' with '1657' scratched underneath. It measures 5.25 inches long by 3.25 wide by .75 inches deep. It weighs 8.25 troy ounces and is in excellent antique condition.

Provenance: Private Collection.