Lot 209: A 1919 Birmingham Sterling Silver Novelty Cat Pin Cushion

A 1919 sterling silver novelty pin cushion, cast in the form of a seated cat. The figure is depicted with its head turned to the right, featuring chased and textured surface detailing to simulate fur, prominent whiskers, and pointed ears. Inset into the cat’s back is a dark blue fabric-covered cushion. A vertical set of hallmarks is struck on the base of the item. These marks include a maker’s mark consisting of a capital letter S followed by a second character, a lion passant indicating sterling silver, an anchor for the Birmingham Assay Office, and a lowercase date letter U in a clipped-corner shield for the year 1919. Additional numerical characters are present towards the lower edge of the base.