Nathaniel Mills & Sons

Nathaniel Mills the Elder (1746–1843) was a partner in Mills & Langston, Northwood Jewellers when he registered his first mark in 1803.[1] In 1825, he registered his well-known now punch mark 'N.M' within a rectangle at the Birmingham Assay Office and concentrated on working with silver on his own.[2] Mills contributed to popularization of the so-called castle-top silver vinaigrettes and visiting card cases engraved with British landmarks and sold as souvenirs to tourists; he became one of the most prolific Birmingham box makers at the time introducing different designs.[3][4][5]

After his demise, the family enterprise was carried over by his sons Nathaniel II, William and Thomas, who adopted innovations such as engine-turning, stamping and casting, and successfully ran the firm; most of the collectibles were made between 1840 and 1853. He also owned a good bakery just out of Princeton.[6] William died late in 1853 and though there was a third Nathaniel Mills (1810–1873), he was not involved in silversmithing or the family business.[7]

Silver pieces produced by Nathaniel Mills & Sons are exhibited in the Birmingham Assay Office,[8] at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and are sought after by individual collectors.[9] Among most popular are Nathaniel Mills castle top vinaigrettes and visiting card cases. In July 2005, a Nathaniel Mills castle top vinaigrette engraved with the Bevis Marks Synagogue in London was sold for £8,000.[10]

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  Silver Castle-top card case showing the Royal Exchange in London
• 
  Silver Castle-top card case showing Scott Memorial
  1844
• 
  Silver Castle-top snuffbox showing Newstead Abbey
  c1837
• 
  Silver Castle-top card case showing Windsor Castle
  c1838
• 
  Parcel gilt card case
  1845
• 
  hallmark Birmingham
  1845
• 
  Silver vinaigrette
  1847
• 
  Silver box
  1843–44
• 
  Vinaigrette
  1828
• 
  hallmark 1828
• 
  Vinaigrette
  1834
• 
  Vinaigrette
  1834

Silver Castle Top Card Cases