Sterling Silver Cigar Box
When you search for a sterling silver cigar box, you encounter substantial table containers and pocket cases designed to protect fine tobacco.
Sterling Silver Cigar Box
A sterling silver cigar box serves as a secure vessel for storing and preserving cigars, appearing primarily in tabletop formats and pocket cases across this collection. These items span Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco periods, showcasing diverse manufacturing traditions from English workshops to Chinese Export creators.
The objects vary from large double-lidded humidor chests mounted on timber to slender pocket vesta cases and single-cigar tubes. Buyers frequently encounter pieces combining solid silver bodies with internal wooden linings, particularly oak and mahogany, designed to maintain humidity and protect the contents.
Materials and Construction Techniques
Silversmiths constructed these boxes using solid sterling silver or silver gilt, frequently applying engine-turned geometric patterns to the exterior surfaces. Many specimens incorporate timber foundations, utilising oak or mahogany linings to give structural weight and stability to the precious metal exterior.
Makers integrated specialised organic materials alongside metalwork, employing crocodile skin leather and smooth animal hide for exterior wrappings on select travel and pocket cases. Hinged lids, internal dividers, and secure clasp mechanisms required precise metal fabrication by specialised craftsmen.
Factors Defining Quality
The distinction between standard items and superior examples rests on the weight of the metal, the complexity of the surface ornamentation, and the reputation of the silversmith. Heavy-gauge metalwork and crisp, hand-engraved detailing indicate higher manufacturing standards than thin pressed sheet metal.
The integrity of internal wooden linings, the precision of the hinge alignment, and the presence of fully legible hallmarks contribute significantly to the standing of a piece. Signed works by notable makers command greater attention due to superior finishing and documented provenance.
Mappin & Webb·Sampson Mordan & Co·Georg Jensen·Wang Hing & Co·Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co·Richard Comyns
The Sterling Silver Cigar Box Glossary
- Sterling silver
- An alloy consisting of 92.5 percent silver by mass and 7.5 percent other metals, usually copper, chosen for durability in tableware and boxes.
- Hallmark
- An official stamp applied by an assay office indicating the purity of the metal, the maker, and the year of production.
- Engine turned
- A decorative technique involving precision mechanical engraving of intricate geometric patterns onto metal surfaces.
- Humidor
- A specialised moisture-controlled storage container designed specifically to keep cigars fresh over extended periods.
- Vesta case
- A small pocket box originally designed to hold matches, frequently adapted for cigars and cheroot storage.
Sterling Silver Cigar Box: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I store actual cigars inside these antique boxes?
Many antique boxes feature original wood linings or humidor compartments suitable for holding tobacco, provided the interior remains clean and odour-free. Some lighter cigarette boxes lack the sealing properties required for long-term cigar preservation.
Evaluate the internal condition and timber lining before placing unsealed tobacco inside historical containers.
How do I identify the date of a silver box?
Examine the stamped hallmarks on the metal body, which typically include a standard mark, a city assay office mark, and a date letter corresponding to a specific year. Reference standard silversmith tables to decode the specific letter shape and shield outline.
Stylistic indicators such as Art Deco geometric lines or Victorian chased flora also help narrow down the period of manufacture.
What is the difference between a cigar box and a cigarette box?
Cigar boxes generally present larger, deeper proportions with internal dividers or heavy timber linings designed to accommodate wider tobacco formats. Cigarette boxes are shallower and narrower, built to hold stacked rows of paper-wrapped cigarettes.
Travel cases and pocket tubes exist in smaller scales for individual cigars or cheroots.