French Sapphire, Gold and Enamel Cigarette Case

This French gold cigarette case is a splendid specimen of early 20th-century style and refinement. The 18K yellow gold accessory is surrounded by exquisite "pinstripe" white enameling with a line of channel-set blue sapphires running along the façade and thumb press.

Smoking accessories were very fashionable from the 1920s through the 1950s and were regarded as status symbols that were showcased the same as prized works of designer jewelry. The finest examples were meticulously crafted of gold, silver and precious jewels by the leading jewelers of the day, and today these are largely found in private collections. Many of these treasured cases were sold and destroyed over the years during times of hardship, making existing cases such as the present example highly desired objets d'art.

Marked "750" for 18K gold with the maker's lozenge mark "CH" 

Circa 1930

4 1/4" length x 3 1/4" wide x 1/4" high