Miami Snuff Boxes and Tobacco

An art deco pocket-box designed by Alfred Dunhill. This is a fabulous pocket cigarettes box made in England during the art deco period. This unusual box was created for the luxury brand of Alfred Dunhill, back in 1921. The presentation box is fitted with a push pressure thumb-button and mechanical springs system. The box was carefully crafted at the Sampson Mordan & Co. workshops in solid .925/.999 sterling silver with accents in polished 18 karats yellow gold and gilded interiors. The box is mainly decorated on both sides, with engine turned geometrics patterns and polished finishes. The craftsmanship of this box is exceptional, with minuses details. No traces of use or wear. Weight: 84.2 Grams, (53.98 Dwt). Measurements: 83 mm by 72.5 mm by 10 mm (3.27 x 2.85 x 0.39 Inches). Hallmarks: Stamped with British mark for England and the city of London; the maker's mark S.M & CO associated to Sampson Mordan & Co. (Sampson Mordan II), the mark for the assay of the .925 silver and the 18kt gold, the four-digits model number, the code-letter of a gothic F for the assay date of 1921 and signed in full as follows: "DUNHILL LONDON STERLING T-179 PATENT 31 S.M&CO F". Alfred Dunhill He inherited his father’s London saddlery in 1893. Following the increase in motor car ownership, Alfred developed the business to include motoring accessories, which he called ‘Dunhill’s Motorities’. This included goggles, timepieces, picnic sets, and leather coats, and it wasn’t long before the brand became associated with men’s general motoring attire. They opened two shops in Mayfair and had a catalogue of over 1300 items. Between the 1904 and 1905, Dunhill introduced their ‘Windshield Pipe’, to help drivers combat the effect of wind and travel on their ability to smoke. This marked both the end of the ‘motorities’ focus and their entry into the world of smoking ephemera, and they shortly opened their first tobacconist in 1907 on Duke Street. The proximity to several esteemed Private Members Clubs around the Mayfair, St James’ area ensured that the venture was a success. (From Nicholas Wells With Thanks). Sampson Mordan & Co. By 1865, the Mordan’s manufactory was based at 41 City Road, London, and later expanded to include No. 43. At some point the two brothers were joined in partnership by Edmund George Johnson...

An art deco enameled box by Louis Kuppenheim. This is a beautiful box created during the art deco period in the city of Pforzheim Germany, back in the late 1925-1930. The wonderful ...

A vesta matches box in gold and sterling attributed to Louis Kuppenheim. A beautiful vesta box for matches created in Germany during the early art deco period, back in the 1920. The...

A burl wood pocket case designed by Cartier. This is a fantastic pocket box, created in Paris France by the jewelry house of Cartier, back in the 1920. The fabulous case has been ma...

An American art-deco case pill-box designed by C.S. Carter This is a very interesting rectangular cased pill-box, created in America during the art deco period, back in the 1930. It...

An art deco box designed by Van Cleef & Arpels. This is an amazing and rare geometric box, created in Paris France by the jewelry house of Van Cleef & Arpels, back in the 1935. The ...

A Viennese Austrian art deco enameled Vinaigrette box. This is a beautiful box created in Vienna Austria during the early art deco period, back the 1915 and 1918. This Viennese box ...

Round pill box designed by William Davenport & Co. This is a very delicate and useful round pill box, created in the city of Birmingham in England by the William Davenport & Company...

A neo-classic guilloche enamel snuff-box This is a fabulous rectangular antique snuff-pill box, created in Pforzheim Germany back in the 1925. The beautiful colorful box has been cr...

An art deco enameled box by Louis Kuppenheim. This is an extremely beautiful box, created during the art deco period in the city of Pforzheim Germany, back in the late 1925. The won...

Mechanical foldable box designed by Napier. This is a very interesting and unusual foldable mechanical case, created in America during the art deco period by the Napier company, bac...

Compact case box designed by Cartier. Beautiful and rare compact box, created in Paris France by the jewelry house of Cartier, back in the 1935. The squared box has been crafted wit...