Sterling Silver Table Cigar Cutter & Lighter, London, 1913

An elegant and unusual Edwardian sterling silver tabletop cigar cutter and lighter, hallmarked London, 1913.

Combining two traditional cigar-smoking accessories in one beautifully crafted object, this distinctive piece reflects the refinement and ingenuity of early twentieth-century English silverware.

The substantial rectangular body rests upon a broad, stepped base, with finely engine-turned sides contrasting against highly polished silver surfaces. At one end, three circular apertures accommodate cigars of different gauges, with a mechanical cutting arrangement..

At the opposite end, a raised, domed compartment supports a enclosed carpartment for lamp oil. A new wick has been installed. It is flanked by two finely modelled, flame-shaped finials - each of which are removable and double as cigar piercers.

The combination of architectural proportions, restrained ornamentation and polished solid sterling silver gives the piece a particularly handsome appearance.

Originally intended for use on a gentleman's desk, in a smoking room or upon a dining table, this unusual accessory recalls an era when smoking requisites were frequently commissioned as objects of both practical utility and decorative distinction.

A highly collectable example of early twentieth-century English silver, equally suited to a traditional interior, a gentleman's study or a collection of antique smoking accessories.

Details

• Origin: England

• Period: George V, 1913

• Material: Sterling silver

• Hallmarks: London assay marks

• Length: Approximately 13 cm

• Features: Three cigar-cutting apertures, mechanical cutting arrangement, central taper holder and decorative flame finials

Condition

Fine antique condition, minor surface marks consistent with age and use. Fitted with new wick.