Miniature Silver Suitcase

A fantastic miniature suitcase by renowned jeweller and miniaturist Karel Bartosik, hallmarked London 1983. Incredible detail; It has a snakeskin decorative finish to the outside of the case, hinges and mock catches made of yellow gold and a rose gold handle! Internally it is designed to look as if it is filled with clothes but this layer lifts up to reveal the gilded inside of the case.

Dimensions: 3.1 cm (height) x 4.5 cm (length) x 1.4 cm (thick)

Karel Bartosik is a renowned and respected jeweller and miniaturist whose works are represented in the silver galleries of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and private collections. A silver figural lighter and a silver and gold miniature suitcase are exhibited in the Jewellery Rooms 91 to 93 of The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery of the V&A.

Bartosik was born in England but his parents were of Dutch and Czech origin. Between 1946 -1967 he lived in Czechoslavakia and worked initially for a costume jewellery manufacturer. On his return to England he joined the workshop of Andrew Grima in London, where he stayed for several years. Later he became a technician at the Royal College of Art in the Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery Department (1991-2007). (Source: V&A Catalogue).