Cases
Browse our collection of antique silver Card Cases, Cigar Cases and Cigarette Cases
Card Cases. The visiting or calling card was an essential accessory to any proper Regency or Victorian lady or gentleman. The cards, supplied by the local printer in small batches, served not just as a letter of introduction or aide memoire, but also as an indicator of social class and good manners. They became an indispensable tool of etiquette with sophisticated rules governing their use. Some visiting cards included refined engraved ornaments, embossed lettering, and fantastic coats of arms however, the standard form of visiting card in the 19th century in the United Kingdom was a plain card with nothing more than the bearer’s name on it.
Sometimes the name of a gentleman’s club might be added, but addresses were not otherwise included. Visiting cards were kept in highly decorated card cases which were status-enhancing accessories themselves.
Cases
Browse our collection of antique silver Card Cases, Cigar Cases and Cigarette Cases
Card Cases. The visiting or calling card was an essential accessory to any proper Regency or Victorian lady or gentleman. The cards, supplied by the local printer in small batches, served not just as a letter of introduction or aide memoire, but also as an indicator of social class and good manners. They became an indispensable tool of etiquette with sophisticated rules governing their use. Some visiting cards included refined engraved ornaments, embossed lettering, and fantastic coats of arms however, the standard form of visiting card in the 19th century in the United Kingdom was a plain card with nothing more than the bearer’s name on it.
Sometimes the name of a gentleman’s club might be added, but addresses were not otherwise included. Visiting cards were kept in highly decorated card cases which were status-enhancing accessories themselves.
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1790
6391 Antique Silver Lancet Case with Thumb Lancets
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An antique sterling silver flip top four partition carrying case fitted with a set of four antique bloodletting lancets. These instruments are known as thumb lancets due to the manner in which they were held and pushed into the blood vessel. Tortoiseshell guards protect the blades. Unmarked silver. Circa 1790
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Circa 1840
9600 Antique Dutch Silver Box
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An antique silver table snuff box with hinged lid and silver string decoration overall. Original gilt interior. Weight 179 grams, 5.7 troy ounces. Height 2.7 cm. Top 12.8 x 7.7 cm. Stamped with Dutch silver marks. Circa 1840.
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Circa 1850
Annibale Portanier
7224 Antique Maltese Silver Card Case
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An excellent antique silver card case with a flip top and all over filigree decoration. There is a large Maltese cross to each side. Weight 75 grams, 2.4 troy ounces. Height 14.5 cms. With Maltese silver marks on the inside edge. Maker Annibale Portanier. Circa 1850.
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1865
8822 Antique Russian Silver and Niello Cigarette Case
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An unusual double sided antique silver cigarette case with niello decoration and original gilt interior. The top has a chequered black and white purse decoration with a swivel catch. The reverse has a niello decorated scene of a large square with monumental buildings. Weight 93 grams, 3 troy ounces. Top measures 9.5 x 5.2 cms. Height 1.6 cms. Marked inside top, centre and bottom with Russian silver marks. Dated 1865.
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1876
8099 Antique Russian Silver and Niello Cigarette Case
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A good quality antique silver cigarette case with niello decoration and original gilt interior. The top has a spirited picture of a 3 horse drawn troika. Weight 155 grams, 4.9 troy ounces. Top measures 11 x 6.75 cms. Height 3.5 cms. Marked inside top and bottom with Russian silver marks. Dated 1876.
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Circa 1880
7631 Antique Maltese Silver Card Case
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An excellent antique silver card case with a flip top and all over filigree decoration. There is a large Maltese cross to one side, a vacant shield cartouche to the other. Excellent crisp condition. Weight 48 grams, 1.4 troy ounces. Height 8 cms. Width 5.5 cms. With Maltese silver marks on the inside edge. Circa 1880.
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1886
7481 Antique Silver Card Case
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An antique sterling silver card case with hinged top and all over embossed scroll decoration. To the front there is a deep relief representation of the Scott Memorial in Edinburgh, Scotland. On the back there is a vacant central cartouche. Weight 70 grams. Height 10 cm. Width 7 cm. Birmingham 1886. Makers mark indistinct.
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1888
William Neal
8297 Victorian Gentleman's Combination Whistle Vesta
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A Victorian sterling silver gentleman’s vesta case, with a vertical ribbed decoration, having a hinged lid with striker to one end, and a whistle to the other end. Weight 30 grams, 1 troy ounce. Length 7 cms. Width 2.5 cms. Marked inside lid and on the body for Chester 1888. Maker William Neale.
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Circa 1890
9651 Antique Silver and Pearl Card Case
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A collector’s item. A fabulous Victorian visiting card case covered with iridescent mother of pearl tiles. The corners and central cartouche have engraved sterling silver mounts. Perfect to use for business cards. The front is engraved with butterflies and flowers. The push button opens the case to display a fan shaped interior (original blue satin and concertina fittings) with a separate slot for each card. Measures 11 x 7.6 cm. Height 1.5 cm. English. Circa 1890.
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1890
9663 Victorian Silver and Enamel Vesta Case
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A good quality antique silver vesta case of rectangular form with flat hinged lid, the face enamelled in monochrome to resemble a calling card with the name ‘Charles H. Herbert’. The reverse uninscribed. Marked inside the flap “APPAY Palais Royal, Paris”. Weight 38 grams. Length 5.9cm. Width 3cm. Height 5cm. Similar to those made by Samson Mordan and James Fenton. English. Circa 1890. Unmarked silver.
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1896
Lawrence Emanuel
8669 Antique Novelty Silver Vesta Case – Wild Boar
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A rare sterling silver vesta case in form of a wild boar and having a snap top hinged lid and original gilded interior. Weight 14 grams, half a troy ounce. Measures 5.3 x 2.5 cms. Birmingham 1896. Maker Lawrence Emanuel.
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Circa 1900
Wang Hing
8901 Antique Chinese Silver Case
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Chinese Export silver. An excellent quality antique sterling silver cigarette case. The top is mounted with a full length dragon having a serpentine shaped body and breathing out fire. Beautiful workmanship. Hand beaten silver. Push button operation. Gilt interior. Engraved initials “CFU” to the top. Weight 226 grams, 7.2 troy ounces. Top measures 14×9 cms. With Chinese silver marks for Wang Hing, Circa 1900.
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Circa 1900
8993 Antique Chinese Silver Cigar Case
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An unusual antique silver case for three cigars beautifully decorated with an embossed dragon in deep relief. Weight 114 grams, 3.6 troy ounces. Length 13 cms. Width 6.5 cms. Marked on the inside clip with Chinese silver stamps. Circa 1900.
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Circa 1910
7258 Silver and Erotica Enamel Cigarette Case
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A fine and impressive antique solid silver cigarette case with a superb figural scene to the front, in hand coloured enamel, of a seated monk and a pretty young woman. The reverse side has a stripy engine turned decoration. The case opens with a push operated catch and the inside has its original gilding and 2 retaining bands. Weight 106 grams, 3.3 troy ounces. Measures 8 x 6.5 cms. Marked on the inside edge with Austrian silver stamps “sterling silver” and 935. Circa 1910.
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Circa 1930
6685 1930's Continental Silver and Enamel Case
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An attractive silver case with a brightly coloured enamel scene to the front of a music hall artiste performing a dance with a ball of string. Original gilt interior with an inscription dated 2.12.60. Weight 145 grams. Height 10 cms. Width 7.5 cms. The catch is marked with continental silver stamps. Circa 1930.
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