Gillers Antiques Ltd has dated this piece to the 1920s.
The upper half of the cigarette case is further embellished with a dark blue enamel border.
The case has a great heavy feel to it and is a very sizeable piece.
Maker: Louis Kuppenheim
Origin: Pforzheim
Date: c. 1920's
Louis Kuppenheim, (1824-1889) founded his company together with Heinrich Witzemann in 1854 in Pforzheim, Germany. Three years later he continued on his own as ‘Louis Kuppenheim’ and became a renowned gold and silver boxmaker and smallworker in Germany in the early 20th century. It has been suggested that Kuppenheim made pieces for major brands, including Cartier and Boucheron and the firm focused mainly on small objects, such as smoking requisites (such as this example), stationery and vanity sets. Kuppenheim products were awarded a gold medal at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris. At its height, the company employed over 200 craftsmen in their Pforzheim factories and in addition to their Paris store, they had a thriving export business. As the Kuppenheims were of Jewish extraction, after 1933 their business declined and increasing Nazi persecution saw to the eventual closure of the business.
158.27 g / 5.09 t oz
8.8 x 9.4 x 1.3 cm overall
7.5 x 8.5 cm cigarette space
Very good antique condition, hinge and catch work perfectly. Small scratch to gilding underneath the rubber band; very slight indent to the lower half (invisible from the outside, only from the inside); outer enamel has a 2.5 cm long surface chip.
Gillers Antiques Ltd has dated this piece to the 1920s.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Gillers Antiques Ltd Profile Page
German Art Deco Louis Kuppenheim Gilt, Silver and Enamel Engine-turned Cigarette Case
