Objects de Vertu

THE SAMPSON MORDAN "SIX-FINGER" SILVER CIGARETTE CASE ...

A rare and well-preserved example of 19TH CENTURY from London, 1880, noted for its craftsmanship, material quality, and historical relevance.

An Unrecorded & Exceptionally Rare Victorian Solid Silver 6-Tube Cigarette Case By Sampson Mordan & Co., London. This 6-tube ''finger'' case predates the Edwardian cigarette boom by two decades, serving as a rare ''First Generation'' prototype of the tubular design. While the 1880s saw the rise of the hand-rolled cigarette, precision-engineered storage of this caliber was reserved strictly for the London elite. Extensive research confirms that this 6-tube pattern is virtually unrecorded. The bespoke 6-tube arrangement allowed for a more ergonomic ''vest-pocket'' width (7.5cm) than the more common 7-tube ''week-supply'' models, likely commissioned for a specific tailored waistcoat. At 92.10 grams, the piece possesses a heavy-gauge luxury ''heft'' that far exceeds standard period cases. The case is in superb condition, exhibiting only light surface scratches commensurate with 146 years of careful ownership. Crucially, the original gold-vermeil (gilt) interior remains intact, and the mechanical push-button catch operates with Mordan's signature precision. Bears the crisp ''S.M'' maker's mark of Sampson Mordan & Co., the 19th century's premier innovator of silver novelties. The missing link in the history of smoking accessories and Victorian Engineering. A museum piece in the world of ''Silver and Objects of Vertue''.

— Details

Reference

SA1200673

Origin

London, 1880

Period

19TH CENTURY

Dimensions

W 7.5cm

Weight

92.1 g

Rarity

Exceptional

Provenance

The G.S. May Esquire Private Collection, London.

Condition

Excellent — see description