Silver Cigar Casket
A silver cigar casket is a heavy, handsome box built to hold fine tobacco, and collectors prize them for their solid presence on a table.
Silver Cigar Casket
When you search for a silver cigar casket, you are looking at substantial lidded boxes designed to keep cigars fresh and orderly. These pieces range from compact table boxes to large travel chests.
You are most likely to meet rectangular lidded boxes made of sterling silver or silver plate, often featuring wooden interiors to protect the tobacco. The examples on this page span the Victorian era through the mid-twentieth century.
The forms include plain geometric Art Deco designs alongside ornate Victorian work and wooden humidors mounted with silver. Makers utilised oak and heavy metal frames to give these boxes proper weight and stability.
How they were made
Silversmiths constructed these boxes using sterling silver, solid silver, or silver plate over a sturdy base. Many incorporated heavy oak linings or wooden carcases to serve as functional humidors.
The techniques combine traditional metalworking with fitted wooden interiors, requiring precise joinery to ensure the heavy lids shut flush against the box walls.
Silver Cigar Casket Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for silver cigar casket 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.
One box on this page keeps watch over your tobacco with a figural greyhound bounding across the lid.
What varies in quality
The distinction between ordinary boxes and superior pieces rests on the weight of the metal and the crispness of the maker's mark. Thicker silver sheets resist denting and maintain a sharper profile over decades of handling.
Internal joinery and the quality of the wood lining also separate standard items from finer examples. Boxes with intact, well-fitted wooden interiors demonstrate superior craftsmanship compared to hollow metal shells.
E O Bateson·Mappin & Webb·Jane Brownett Alexander Jones
The Silver Cigar Casket Glossary
- Sterling silver
- An alloy containing a high proportion of pure silver mixed with small amounts of other metals to increase durability. This is the standard metal for fine table boxes.
- Silver plate
- A base metal coated with a thin layer of silver through electroplating or older techniques. It offers the appearance of solid silver at a different weight.
- Humidor
- A moisture-controlled box designed to keep cigars fresh. Many period examples combine wooden bodies with heavy metal mounts.
- Art Deco
- A design style characterised by sleek geometric lines and streamlined forms, highly prevalent in pieces from the nineteen-twenties and thirties.
Silver Cigar Casket: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a silver cigar casket?
A silver cigar casket is a heavy lidded box designed specifically for storing and presenting cigars. They protect the contents from excessive air and light while serving as a decorative table object.
These boxes usually feature hinged lids and may include fitted wooden interiors or dividers to keep cigars separated. Their sturdy construction gives them a satisfying weight in the hand.
How do I date a silver cigar box?
Dating a silver box relies primarily on the hallmarks stamped into the metal by the assay office. These small marks indicate the city of testing, the standard of silver, and a specific date letter.
Stylistic cues also help narrow down the period, such as the geometric lines of Art Deco pieces or the ornate decoration typical of Victorian examples. Comparing the construction methods to known periods provides further confirmation.
Did these boxes function as humidors?
Many period boxes served as humidors by incorporating wooden linings, particularly oak, which helped maintain the proper environment for tobacco. Some larger travel boxes were built with secure clasps for this exact purpose.
While antique boxes may not seal as tightly as modern humidors, their wooden interiors and substantial metal walls were originally intended to keep cigars in good condition.
How do I care for silver boxes?
Caring for a silver cigar casket requires gentle cleaning with a soft cloth and a reputable silver polish to remove tarnish without harming the metal. Avoid harsh abrasive cleaners that can scratch the surface or wear away thin plating.
If the box includes a wooden interior, keep moisture away from the wood when polishing the metal parts to prevent warping or staining the lining.