A Victorian silver mounted hoof table vesta box

A Victorian silver mounted hoof table vesta box,

by William Summers, London 1863,

the hoof with textured hair mounts and a striking plate, the hinged cover inscribed 'WILFUL, 1st Charger Shot in Action on the 18th September 1860 AT CHOW-KIA-WHAU NEAR PEKIN', on a silver horse shoe, length 12cm.

The inscription probably relates to a campaign during the China War 1860, when the Allied forces marched to Chang-Kia-Wan (mis-spelled in the inscription) encountering Chinese forces on 18th September. A battle ensued and as the party spurred their horses, encountering fire from all directions, it was reported that two men were wounded and one horse was killed. It is likely that the Charger in the inscription was this horse.