Cigarette case possibly Russian

[techsol]

Hi,

I would be grateful for any information on this cigarette case. It is a combined cigarette case and vesta holder, and judging by the many holes it would probably have had facimile signatures applied at one time. Can anyone confirm its origin and who the maker may have been?

Many Thanks

Martin.

[Zolotnik]

Hi Martin -
this is a tindercord and match compartment cigarette case - en vogue in the years around 1896. The shown mark was 1896 until 1908 in use. Townmark Moscow, assay master Iwan S. Lebedkin. Unfortunately the silversmith APC (ARS in Latin) is not known until today.
In my collection are several cigarette cases made by him - see photos.







For a better understanding a complete tinder cord cigarette case, made by the 12th Artel:



Regards
Zolotnik

[techsol]

Hi Zolotnik,

Many thanks for your response that's really helpful. Looking at your images I just wish mine still had the signatures as they transform the object. I wonder why someone removed the signatures from mine, or maybe they were never applied in the first place for some reason.

Regards,

Martin

[Zolotnik]

Hi Martin -
often the signatures and other applications are removed because they are gold - easyer and quicker to sell than a cigarette case. ....

Here a better explanation of the use of your cigarette case:

TINDER CORD AND MATCH/STRIKER COMPARTMENT
IN RUSSIAN CIGARETTE CASES
The beginner collector of Russian cigarette cases sometimes finds a strange looking container whose purpose is not immediately clear: the cigarette case with tinder cord and match/striker compartment.

Often I heard the following comment by dealers where I found one of this cases:
"Because of the missing pencil I can give you the case for half of the regular price" or "The carrying chain for this lady's case is lost, but....".

The solution of this riddle is very simple when you know the social background and a little story of the origin of these fascinating objects.

When, after the Crimean War (1853 - 1856), cigarette smoking became more and more fashionable (previously tobacco was only chewed, snuffed and smoked in pipes or cigars), the silver manufacturers began to switch their production from snuff boxes to cigarette cases. They had to insert into their new designs a space for the safety match, the invention patented in 1852 by Swedish engineer John Edvard Lundström and highly appreciated by its users.

What could be simpler than making a cigarette case with a storage for matches and, of course, a striker plate?
But then, what purpose had the drill hole going from one end to the other end of the case?

In this hole a tinder cord was inserted, a device well known from the first, simple lighters. The tinder cord had a tiny hook, a little chain and an end or lid in the form of a ball, pearl, semi precious stone etc. to close the opening after use.

At that time the new, fantastic, useful matches were very expensive. To save matches (and money) the usual procedure was as follows: one pulled a certain length of the tinder cord on the ball or lid out of the hole, took a match, ignited it and made the tinder glow. Now you could light as many cigarettes as you wanted. After use the tinder cord was simply drawn back, the ball or lid sealed the opening and the flame was extinguished by lack of oxygen.

Not only were the cigarette cases made in this form. Also the separate match holders were constructed in the same way.

The production of this form of cigarette cases ceased in the 1910s, after the invention of the gasoline lighter.

Regards
Zolotnik

[techsol]

Hi Zolotnik,

Really informative information, thank you so much.

Regards
Martin