Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Victorian Silver Cigarette Case to the 19th Century.
By Sampson Mordan & Co., London
Provenance: The G.S. May Esquire Private Collection, London.
Dimensions: 7.5cm x 7cm
Weight: 92.10g Sterling Silver.
Hallmarks: London, Uppercase "E" (1880).
A major unrecorded discovery in the field of Victorian Objects of Vertu.
While the 1880s saw the rise of the hand-rolled cigarette, precision-engineered storage of this caliber was reserved strictly for the London elite.
Unrecorded Configuration:
Extensive research through global auction archives, including major sales by Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Bonhams, confirms that this 6-tube pattern is virtually unrecorded. The bespoke 6-tube arrangement allowed for a more ergonomic "vest-pocket" width (7.5cm) than the more common 7-tube "week-supply" models, likely commissioned for a specific tailored waistcoat.
Substantial Weight: At 92.10 grams, the piece possesses a heavy-gauge luxury "heft" that far exceeds standard period cases.
?Preservation: The case is in superb condition, exhibiting only light surface scratches commensurate with 146 years of careful ownership.
Crucially, the original gold-vermeil (gilt) interior remains intact, and the mechanical push-button catch operates with Mordan’s signature precision.
Signature Detail: Bears the crisp "S.M" maker’s mark of Sampson Mordan & Co., the 19th century’s premier innovator of silver novelties.
The missing link in the history of smoking accessories and Victorian Engineering.
A museum piece in the world of "Silver and Objects of Vertue"
Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Victorian Silver Cigarette Case to the 19th Century.
Specialising in antique silver, gold boxes, gold coins and objects de vertu. Rare fine-quality imperial chinese porcelain, jades, cloisonné
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Sandbanks Antiques Profile Page
THE SAMPSON MORDAN "SIX-FINGER" SILVER CIGARETTE CASE (1880)
