Lined Silver Plate Box

Q: We were given this by an elderly friend and would like to know what it is, how old it is, and the value. I’ve tried to bring out the silver color to no avail. It’s 4 1/2 inches tall, 5 1/2 inches long, and 4 inches wide. It has pink satin lining and is marked on the bottom “Rogers Silver Plate Co., NB, Danbury.”

A: This is an Art Nouveau trinket box made in the early 1900s. Rogers Silver Plate Co. was founded by Nathaniel Burton Rogers in Danbury, Connecticut, in 1896. He and his brothers ran the business until 1924. The initials “NB” in the mark distinguish this Rogers company from the many other Rogers silver companies in business in Connecticut and Massachusetts in the 1800s. After Nathaniel died, Cephas B. Rogers II bought the company and operated it until the 1950s. We’ve seen several examples of this trinket box, including some that have painted flowers and leaves. The plating has worn off yours. Trinket boxes like this sell for about $50.