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Vesta Cases are small containers designed to hold the early form of friction matches. The matches first appeared in the 1830’s and were patented by William Newton. He named them ‘Vestas’ after the Roman goddess of the hearth who symbolised fire and home. Because of the matches ability to be easily lighted, they needed a case to prevent accidental ignition and to protect from moisture and damage. Vesta cases were often engraved with intricate designs and details – some were produced to commemorate important events. The more expensive had a gold wash interior to prevent corrosion from the chemicals in...

What is a Pearl? A pearl is a natural secretion, mainly of crystalline calcium carbonate, that forms around an irritation inside the shell of an oyster. Natural Pearls In naturally formed pearls the irritation is usually a grain of sand or a piece of plankton.  By the end of the 19th century there were hardly any natural pearls left in the world. Cultured Pearls In the early 20th century the Japanese started inserting small beads of 'mother of pearl' into oysters.  This 'cultivating' or farming of pearls became a big business led by the Mikimoto Pearl Company creating Akoya seawater...

  Marston Barrett have been serving customers since 1938 and this week we are celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day, with a display of 126 poppies representing the men who gave their lives and are named on the war memorial in Lewes. In our display we have pictures of Sidney Fisk, his sister Doris, his great friend Johny Campbell and the infantry boys from the DCLI (Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry) Regiment. Sid joined the territorial army in 1940 at the age of 15 and went onto serve in the 7th battalion of the Royal Hampshires, DCLI and RASC...

  The Royal Naval Air service merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service at the end of WW1, namely The Royal Air Force. We have a Royal Navy Air Service pocket watch which has a rare 8 days Octava movement (luminous) but not radioactive numerals. The back is marked with an unusual long 'Broad Arrow' and similar dial Admiralty Mark II A^D. It has a black Arabic dial with subsidiary seconds dial. The bale has been added on later, as originally the watch would have sat in the plane within the instrument panel in...

THE CORONATION OF HIS MAJESTY THE KING, & HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN CONSORT, TAKES PLACE AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY ON SATURDAY 6TH MAY 2023. To mark this historic occasion, a commemorative hallmark has been produced, and can be struck on all hallmarked articles from 1st March 2023 to 31st December 2024. As a tribute to the occassion Francis Howard Silversmiths will be making a limited edition of 100 units of this beautiful beaker which is based on an original, made between 1645 and 1650. It is constructed in Sterling Silver and carries a beautifully engraved frame around the body of the cup....