Very unusual Patch-Work-Pattern Cigarette Case

[silberdosen]

Hello!

I just got a very unusual cigarette case and at first sight I thought it is just different coulered, but now I found out, that the case has been set together/solderd from differnt pieces of different material.
The case has been made with greated skill and care, it looks like a masterpiece to me. In the inside you can see the same pattern of the pieces (mirrored).
The material used appears to be silver, copper, bronze and a drak/black material. Between the pieces you can see hairline solder.
The case is not marked at all.

My questions: Has anybody out there ever seen a similar item and can give me some background information?
What might be the provience of the item?
Does anybody know the name of such silversmight work (like Moku Game from Japan)?
In which period might it have been done?

I am very curious and look forward to your remarks.




Best wishe from Hamburg/Germany
Rainer

[Bahner]

Hello, how did you check that this is not just patinated metal ? Best wishes, Bahner

[silberdosen]

Hi Bahner and thank's for your input!

The shape of the fields of the different material/metal correspond exactly 'mirrored' inside/outside.
Also, there is a hairline of solder between all the fields/elements.

Best regards
Rainer

[dragonflywink]

Can't recall seeing a cigarette case like yours, but have seen similar "patch-work" pieces, the technique, called 'Metales Casados' (Married Metals), was used by several mid 20th century silversmiths in Taxco, Mexico, notably Los Castillo and Victoria - if Mexican, would expect it to be marked. You have the construction properly described - on the Metales Casados pieces, the elements of the design were cut out of different metals and soldered together, a common blend was silver, copper, brass, and a "dark silver" alloy. On the better Mexican pieces, some of the designs are quite complex, with the solder lines virtually invisible; have also run across pieces made by modern studio jewelers/silversmiths using the same technique.

If you scroll about halfway down on this link to an informational site on Los Castillo, there's a bit on their married metals: http://pernel.com/loscastillo/CastilloTaxcoHistory.htm

~Cheryl

[AG2012]

Married metal, right - joining various colored alloys, such as of bronze, copper and silver, adjacent to one another. I suppose it is not marked as silver because of too many other alloys. It does require skill cutting pieces, soldering them together is not that difficult with proper solder. The hinges are difficult to make, though; the quality can be judged on them. The steel wire inside the hinge is twisted and pushed inside, the kinetic energy being created during twisting so that the lid springs up when opened. Does it spring when opened?

[silberdosen]

Hello @dragonflywink, Hello @AG2012 and thank you very muh for your input and knowledge. It brings a lot of 'light' on this piece for me.

@AG2012: You are right with the twisted wire in the hinge, the cose opens if the thumbpiece is pressed.

It was also my thought, that th eitem is not hallmarked because there is a lot of bronze and brass on it.

About the origin/provience of the case: It has been offered to me a 'most likely German'.

(admin edit - see Posting Requirements )

BTW: it meassures 80 x 77 mm and the weight is 77 grams.

Thanks again for your input, it is very much appreciated.

Best regards
Rainer

[AG2012]

Hello again,
Very important fact regarding the period the case was made;it is too small for filter cigarettes, meaning it must have been made much earlier. most probably before WW II or shortly after it.It makes sense,right? Who would make a cigarette case that would not fit most of modern cigarette brands?