A Late Victorian or Early 20th Century Silver-Gilt and Yellow Metal Novelty Horse Hoof Desk Accessory

This novelty desk accessory is designed in the form of a horse’s hoof, likely intended for use as an inkwell or match holder. The piece is constructed from cast yellow metal with a removable interior liner. The liner is made of silver-gilt and bears four hallmarks. These include an unidentified maker’s mark consisting of two letters in a rectangle, the lion passant for sterling silver, the anchor for the Birmingham assay office, and a lowercase date letter, possibly an f or u. The body of the hoof features realistic cast textures, including simulated hair around the coronet and a detailed underside depicting a horseshoe and frog. An indistinct incised mark is present on the underside of the main body at the top centre of the horseshoe.

Length: 150mm.