Vintage Cigar Holder
These vintage cigar holder pieces span compact pocket cases and floor-standing stands designed to protect fine tobacco.
Vintage Cigar Holder
A vintage cigar holder encompasses pocket cases, cheroot holders, desktop boxes, and floor-standing smoking stands designed for tobacco storage and use. The selection ranges from Victorian pocket cases and Edwardian floor stands to French modernist silver-plated boxes.
Pocket pieces appear most frequently, constructed to hold individual cigars, cheroots, or multiple tubes. Larger examples extend to locking gentleman's cabinets and novelty smoking compendiums shaped like fire carriages.
Distinctions in quality and finish
Quality reveals itself in the precision of the silver hallmarks, the crispness of hand engraving on metal mounts, and the integrity of the leather hides used for outer wraps. Heavier gauge metals and fully fitted interior compartments demonstrate superior workshop standards.
The complexity of the form further differentiates examples, moving from simple plain sleeves to intricate novelty shapes, fitted cabinets, and combinations of precious metal with carved amber.
Vintage Cigar Holder Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for vintage cigar holder 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 smoking compendium is built in the exact shape of a fire carriage.
CARL HEISS VIENNA·Zimmerman·SAMPSON MORDAN·Crevillen Paris
The Vintage Cigar Holder Glossary
- Cheroot
- A cylindrical cigar with both ends cut flat rather than tapered. These require smaller holders and specialised pocket cases.
- Humidor
- A moisture-controlled container designed to keep cigars fresh. Pocket versions utilise tight seals and metal tubes.
- Compendium
- A comprehensive set of smoking accessories housed together in a decorative cabinet or stand. These often include glass, silver, and wood elements.
- Novelty
- An item shaped to resemble an unrelated object or scene, such as a fire carriage. Victorian makers favoured this playful approach for smoking accessories.
- Hallmark
- An official stamp applied to precious metals indicating purity, maker, and assay office. These provide precise dating for silver and gold mounts.
Vintage Cigar Holder: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a cigar case and a cheroot holder?
A cigar case stores the full cigar or multiple cigars in pocket or box format for transport.
A cheroot holder is a mouthpiece into which the smoker inserts a small cheroot for consumption.
How do I identify the period of a silver cigar case?
Look for stamped hallmarks on the silver mounts, which indicate the assay office and year of manufacture.
Stylistic cues such as Victorian engraving or Edwardian mahogany proportions also help narrow down the date.
Were these pieces meant for pocket or home use?
Both formats exist within the selection, depending on the scale of the object.
Pocket cases and torpedo-shaped tubes were built for travel, while smoking stands, cabinets, and compendiums stayed in the home.
What materials are typical for these smoking accessories?
Metals such as sterling silver, 900 silver, and brass provide structural protection.
These are frequently combined with crocodile leather, plain leather, mahogany, amber, and glass.