Silver Cigarette Case Box
A silver cigarette case box brings pocket-sized luxury to the desk, offering a tactile piece of smoking history.
Silver Cigarette Case Box
A silver cigarette case box encompasses pocket containers and desktop boxes designed for tobacco storage. Pieces range from slim pocket containers to large travelling cigar boxes and table lighters.
The selection includes items from Victorian and Edwardian makers alongside bold Art Deco designs. Geographic origins span England, Russia, India, Siam, Turkey and continental Europe.
Buyers encounter both simple engine-turned metalwork and elaborate international traditions such as Russian cloisonné and Indian enamel.
Materials and Technique
Silversmiths formed these pieces from sterling silver, silver gilt and solid silver, occasionally mounting them on shagreen or incorporating gold highlights. Surface decoration frequently relies on vibrant vitreous enamel, hand-painted floral motifs and niello work.
Makers utilised traditional techniques such as hand engraving, chasing and cloisonné enamel to pattern the metal. Interior gilt washes and secure latches demonstrate the technical precision applied to functional objects.
Listings feature items spanning the nineteenth century through the Art Deco and Soviet eras, executed in sterling silver, enamel and shagreen.
Craftsmanship and Execution
The standard of execution separates everyday utility items from exceptional workshop output. Crisply struck hallmarks, tight hinges and flush-closing lids indicate superior manufacturing care.
Artistic complexity defines the upper tier, particularly where hand-painted enamels, shaded cloisonné work or specialist finishes like Samorodok texture are preserved intact.
Sampson Mordan·Jane Brownett Alexander Jones·Liberty and Co·Khlebnikov·Aleksandr Karpov
The Silver Cigarette Case Box Glossary
- Sterling silver
- An alloy consisting of pure silver and other metals to increase durability. This standard metal forms the body of most British and international pieces.
- Vitreous enamel
- Glass fused to metal under high heat. This colourful decorative layer appears in smooth fields or complex painted scenes.
- Silver gilt
- Silver covered with a thin layer of gold on its surface. This technique provides a rich interior finish inside the case.
- Niello
- A black metallic alloy used as an inlay on engraved silver. It creates striking contrasting patterns against the bright metal ground.
- Shagreen
- Untanned skin with a granular surface texture, typically from shark or ray. It provides a distinctive tactile body for Art Deco boxes.
Silver Cigarette Case Box: Frequently Asked Questions
What fits inside these antique cases?
These containers held standard cigarettes, cheroots or cigars depending on their physical scale. Pocket versions suit slimmer paper-wrapped tobacco, while deeper table boxes accommodate bulk supplies.
Today, modern users repurpose the smaller boxes to hold business cards, pill cases or small trinkets on a desk.
How do I date a silver box?
British pieces carry hallmarks that include date letters designating the specific year of assay. Provincial and international items rely on style markers such as Edwardian flora or geometric Art Deco lines.
Comparing construction methods and engraved cyphers helps narrow the decade of manufacture when official stamps are absent.
Are enamelled silver boxes fragile?
Vitreous enamel is essentially glass fused to metal, meaning it can chip under sharp impacts or severe drops. Careful handling prevents surface fractures on delicate pictorial panels.
Store these pieces away from hard objects and clean them gently with soft cloths rather than abrasive polishes.
Why are some interiors gold washed?
A gilt interior protects the silver base metal from the corrosive oils and moisture found in tobacco. This layer prevents tarnishing inside the enclosed chamber.
Craftsmen also applied gold washes purely for aesthetic contrast against the cool exterior silver.