Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Victorian Silver Vesta Case to the 19th Century.
, hallmarked in London in 1882.
A masterwork of trompe l'oeil craftsmanship, this piece is naturalistically fashioned in the precise form of a hand-rolled cigar complete with realistic wrapped leaf textures. It features an ingeniously disguised, spiral-engraved cut end that cleverly doubles as a functional match striker—a brilliant example of Sampson Mordan's design integration. The design includes two hinged ends that open independently to reveal dual internal storage voids. Finding an authentic, double-ended naturalistic cigar Vesta by this legendary maker is an extraordinary opportunity for the serious collector of novelty silver.
Maker: Sampson Mordan & Co
Origin: London, England
Date: 1882
Material: Sterling Silver
Dimensions: Length: 10.2 cm (4.13 inches)
Condition: Excellent collector's condition, retaining crisp hallmarks, good snap to close both hinged lids, slight wobble to lid and having wonderful original surface detail with Gilded interiors.
Provenance: The G S. May Esquire Private Collection, London
Collector's Note: Extremely scarce and recorded as a potential one-off commission; no other surviving double-ended naturalistic cigar example by Sampson Mordan & Co. is currently documented in trade records, Newspaper Advertisements or specialty archives, making this an exceptional acquisition for advanced collections.
Sandbanks Antiques has dated this Victorian Silver Vesta 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
Victorian Novelty Sterling Silver "Double-ended Cigar" Vesta Case by Sampson Mordan & Co, London, 1882
