Victorian Silver Novelty Smoker Compendium Edward Charles Brown, 1881

A highly unusual Victorian silver novelty smoker’s compendium by Edward Charles Brown, hallmarked in London in 1881. Modelled as Mr Jorrocks, the celebrated sporting character created by Victorian writer John Smith Surtees, the figure is depicted as a country gentleman accompanied by his faithful dog. Smoker’s compendia were Victorian smoking accessory boxes, designed to house the various small implements associated with smoking. Often produced as elaborate novelty pieces, they combined practical function with decorative and humorous designs, reflecting the importance of smoking within Victorian gentlemanly culture. This example features a finely cast figural group mounted on an intricately decorated silver base, which sits upon a substantial silver box with a hinged drawer. The whimsical design and sporting subject make it a particularly characterful example of Victorian novelty silver. A rare and distinctive piece, it showcases the Victorian fascination with combining function, craftsmanship and storytelling in silver objects.