Cigarette Cases

The cigarette case is a pocket accessory that emerged in the second half of the nineteenth century, as the manufactured cigarette gradually superseded the cigar and the pipe. Its primary function was to protect cigarettes from moisture, impact and crushing, while allowing their owner to present them with elegance. The object reached its golden age between 1880 and 1940, across Europe and Russia alike, where houses such as Fabergé produced exceptional works of goldsmithing. In France, England and Austria-Hungary, silversmiths' workshops and leading makers of men's fashion accessories vied with one another in refinement to serve a bourgeois and aristocratic clientele.

The most common materials are sterling silver, silver plate and gilt brass, often combined with applications of cloisonné or guilloché enamel, mother-of-pearl or leather covering. Decorative schemes reflect successive styles: Art Nouveau floral motifs, the rigorous geometries of Art Deco, engraved armorial bearings or interlaced monograms. Some cases incorporate a spring-loaded mechanism that ejects the cigarettes, whose smooth action remains a reliable indicator of the quality of execution.

When assessing an antique cigarette case, the discerning collector will first examine the hallmarks: the maker's mark, the assay mark guaranteeing the silver standard, and the guarantee mark specific to each country. The condition of the opening mechanism, the flatness of the walls, the absence of visible repair soldering and the legibility of the engravings are all decisive criteria. An identifiable maker's signature — whether a London silversmith, a Viennese workshop or a Parisian house — adds considerable value to the piece.