Edwardian Cigar Lighter
These pieces of edwardian cigar lighter design bring flame and conversation to the table, constructed to burn steadily for a gentleman's smoke.
Edwardian Cigar Lighter
An edwardian cigar lighter takes the form of a functional smoking accessory designed for the smoking room or dining table, utilising sterling silver, silver plate, and cut glass. These items span periods from the Victorian era into the 1920s, reflecting diverse tastes in domestic tobacco use.
The most common formats on this page include table lighters shaped as classical oil lamps, alongside novelty pieces modelled on animals, canoes, and carriages. Such forms reveal the period penchant for miniature sculpture that doubles as a useful household implement.
Makers and makers' marks anchor these objects in British silversmithing history, with notable names producing both standard table reservoirs and elaborate novelty smoking compendiums. Each piece provides a tangible link to late nineteenth and early twentieth century social rituals.
How they were made
Sterling silver and silver plate form the primary chassis of these lighters, shaped through casting, chasing, and smithing techniques. Makers mounted glass reservoirs in cut glass where fluid visibility was required.
Fabric wicks draw fuel upward through a burner nozzle, secured within hinged or removable caps designed to extinguish the flame safely between uses.
Edwardian Cigar Lighter Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for edwardian cigar lighter 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.
A frog serves as a lighter.
What varies in quality
The distinction between ordinary production and superior work lies in the sculptural ambition of the novelty models and the crispness of the silversmith's chasing. Elaborate animal or architectural forms demand precise metalwork that retains sharp detail across feathers, limbs, or wheels.
Hallmarks and maker marks contribute heavily to the standing of an individual piece, confirming provenance and the standard of the metal used by the workshop.
Goldsmith & Silversmith·Joseph Braham·Comyns·Mappin & Webb·Elkington
The Edwardian Cigar Lighter Glossary
- Table lighter
- A stationary lighting vessel designed to sit upon a desk, smoking table, or sideboard. These stand independently rather than being carried in a pocket.
- Smoking compendium
- A fitted box or stand containing multiple smoker's requirements such as lighters, cigar cutters, and ash trays. These coordinate smoking accessories into a single desk or table set.
- Sterling silver
- An alloy of silver containing 92.5 percent pure silver by mass, alongside other metals for durability. British pieces carry standard assay office hallmarks to verify this standard.
- Silver plate
- A base metal substrate coated with a thin layer of pure silver. This method offered the visual weight of solid silver at a lower production cost.
- Novelty lighter
- A smoking accessory shaped deliberately to resemble an animal, vehicle, or classical artefact. These items combine utility with playful sculptural display.
Edwardian Cigar Lighter: Frequently Asked Questions
How did people use them?
They sat permanently on a table or desk, filled with fluid and fitted with a fabric wick that burned when ignited by a match.
Guests or hosts would lean in to light their cigars before extinguishing the flame with the attached snuffer cap.
How do I identify the period?
Periods are identified through hallmarks stamped into the metal, stylistic cues such as neoclassical revival motifs, and manufacturing techniques.
Assay office marks and date letters provide precise years of manufacture for British sterling silver examples.
Are they safe to use with fuel today?
Many of these pieces remain structurally sound, though original wicks and seals may require modern replacement for practical operation.
Collectors often treat them primarily as display objects rather than functional daily lighters due to their age.