MINIATURE CUPID & DOG PERFORMING FIGURES, 1898 CHESTER IMPORT, HANAU STERLING

Description

Sterling silver miniature figural group of a cupid standing on a chair with a whip training a dog to jump through a hoop, all on an oval base.  The piece weighs .83 troy ounces and the base measures 1 7/8 inches across by 1 3/8 inches, and 1 7/8 inches high from top of cupid's head to base of the chair legs, and the dog measures 1 1/4 inches across his legs.  Marked on the base "n" for the maker B. Neresheimer & Sohne in
Hanau, Germany
, and the English import hallmarks: "BM" for Berthold Mueller, the importer, the lion for sterling, the Chester town mark, the date letter "P" for 1898 and "F" for foreign.  The hoop is slightly out of round and is separated at its lower joining with cupid's hand, and the whip is likely bent from a possibly more vertical stance (or it is in motion as the cupid cracks the whip), otherwise in good antique condition.