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Rare Cigarette Case / Vintage Business Card Holder with Triple Opening and Gold Interior (Vermeil) Type: Rare combined pocket case (Cigarette case and/or business card holder) Era: Early 20th century (Belle Époque / Art Nouveau period, circa 1900–1920) Origin: Central Europe (Austro-German manufacture / Mitteleuropa) Material: Base metal silver-plated (Alpaca / Neusilber) with fire-gilded / vermeil interior finish Decoration: Pebble-h hammered relief pattern “snake skin / reptile” with a central shield incised monogram Particular and sought-after pocket accessory of great charm and constructive refinement: * Exterior: Rectangular, ergonomically shaped case, finely repoussé with an organic scale geometric motif (snake skin hammering), typical of applied arts bridging Art Nouveau and Art Deco. At the center of the main cover sits a hand-engraved heraldic shield containing an elegant italic intertwined monogram. * Triple Opening Mechanism: The object features a complex and unusual mechanical structure: * The top hinged lid allows rapid vertical extraction for immediate use. * The two side book-style doors with a tab latch open fully, revealing the large main compartment with the original elastic page/ cigarette holder. * Interior: Fully tropicalized / gilded in warm vermeil tone to protect the contents from silver oxidation. On the inner closing flaps are impressed punch marks and factory stamps (manufacturer marks and Alpaca/Argentone metal grade). Technical Details and Conservation * Technique: Fire-gilded metal with hand-burins engraving. * Condition: Good / Very good considering age. * Mechanical: All hinges, side doors, and the upper snap closure operate perfectly and are well aligned. * Surfaces: External silver plating well preserved with light period wear, charming patina of time and minimal signs of use. Inner gilding clearly visible. Inner elastic band preserved. Notes for the Collector This type of multifunctional, triple-jointed cases represented the pinnacle of pocket craftsmanship in the early 1900s, designed to hold both cigarettes and business cards or personal notes. The Alpaca alloy (also known as German Silver or Neusilber), combined with silver plating and inner gilding, ensured high robustness and aesthetics on par with pure precious metals. A unique piece for collectors of antique smoking paraphernalia, vintage pocket curios or collectors of silver and Mitteleuropean art alloys. There are light scratches and micro-scrapes on the object Careful and trackable shipping

Estimate:£125.63

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