Cigar Accessory Box
A cigar accessory box keeps fine leaves and smoking gear orderly, ranging from pocket cases to desk humidor cabinets.
Cigar Accessory Box
A cigar accessory box encompasses a variety of receptacles designed for storing and carrying tobacco, cheroots, and smoking gear. When you search for a cigar accessory box, you encounter items ranging from pocket cases in sterling silver and crocodile leather to large wooden cabinets and glass compendiums.
The pieces on this page span the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian eras into the Art Deco period. You will find small cheroot cases alongside heavy travel boxes, locking cabinets in burr walnut, and novelty forms on wheels.
How they were made
Makers utilised precious metals, leather, and hardwoods to construct these containers, often combining sterling silver, silver gilt, and silver plate with internal wood linings. Metal cases show engine turning and hand engraving, whilst leather items employ crocodile skin and book-form binding techniques.
Wooden examples include hand-carved Black Forest items and burr walnut cabinets fitted with locks. Specialised pieces integrate white onyx, malachite, and glass mounted in silver frameworks.
Cigar Accessory Box Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for cigar accessory box among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
What varies in quality
The distinction between standard containers and finer work lies in the weight of the silver, the precision of the engine turning, and the complexity of the form. Makers such as Georg Jensen, Mappin & Webb, or Wright & Davies applied superior craftsmanship to their mounts and hinges.
Material choice also dictates the tier of the piece, moving from silver plate or base metal up to solid sterling silver, silver gilt, and exotic hides like crocodile skin or burr walnut.
Joseph Gloster Ltd·Mappin & Webb·Georg Jensen·Jane Brownett Alexander Jones·Edward Edwards·Wright & Davies
The Cigar Accessory Box Glossary
- Engine turned
- A geometric pattern mechanically engraved onto metal surfaces using a lathe. This technique creates a textured finish that catches the light.
- Silver gilt
- Sterling silver that has been coated with a thin layer of gold on the surface. This process gives the interior or exterior a rich golden tone.
- Humidor
- A specialised storage box designed to maintain proper humidity for cigars. These often feature wood interiors to preserve tobacco quality.
- Cheroot
- A narrow cigar with both ends cut straight rather than tapered. Cases specifically made for these are typically slimmer than standard cigar holders.
- Compendium
- A comprehensive set or box containing multiple smoking accessories or items in one vessel. Victorian examples sometimes took elaborate decorative forms.
Cigar Accessory Box: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cigar accessory box?
A cigar accessory box is any container built to hold tobacco, cheroots, or smoking implements. These range from pocket-sized leather cases to large desk cabinets.
They protect the contents and provide an orderly way to store smoking gear.
How do I know the age?
Silver pieces carry hallmarks that indicate the assay office, maker, and year of production. Stylistic markers such as Art Deco geometry or Victorian ornamentation also date the item.
Materials and construction techniques further help narrow down the period of manufacture.
Were these boxes used daily?
Many items, such as silver pocket cases and leather books, served for daily personal transport. Larger cabinets and compendiums remained stationary on desks or smoking tables.
Precious materials indicate they belonged to affluent owners who valued fine presentation.
Can I store cigars in them now?
Some wooden cabinets and humidor boxes function adequately for modern tobacco storage if seals remain intact. Pocket cases and flat trays are better suited for display or carrying a few items.
Checking the interior lining helps determine if the box maintains proper humidity.