www.925-1000.com

Who can help me with this box. One part is a snuffbox and the rightside is a vesta case. I have bought it several years ago in Israel.
The only hallmarks are the 800.
It is a nice quality box but I have no serious clue were is was made and by whom. Any help is appreciated.

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Geert

Looks like European box. I cannot tell from the photos if the lid is engraved. Use 10 X magnifying glass and search if it is engraved (there is no mistake about it — the traces of the chisel cannot be confused with casting). The quality of gilded center cartouche is suspicious being probably sand cast — look at its edges. I would say modern repro.If you bought it in a shop in Israel you already know the answer: those items are very expensive and have no ``800`` hallmark. The seller is not to blame — ``800`` hallmark speaks for itself.
Ivan

Hello Margaux,

Herewith, I like to show you a similar snuff box. This one has the 800 mark with the initials L.U; the box also carries the Dutch Hallmark for used objects .Z. ( minimum 800 fineness)
A few years ago I saw a similar box at Pasarel in Israel, which they said to be made in Germany; however Pasarel would not explain why the box could be German. To me Italy could be a possibility. Perhaps someone could tell us more.

Regards,

Oel

Hello Oel,

I took a look in my files and this box I bought in 2005 from Pasarel. Maybe we are talking about the same box?
My goal is to get more info on the silversmith. This is not a great item but quite lovely to see, and I´m curious

Geert

Hi Geert,

Yes, perhaps could well be. May I ask why do you call this a snuff box and vesta case? Are you sure the small compartment is a vesta case and does it have a ribbed surface, for lighting the matches? If so it is not a snuff box but a cigarette case with matchsafe. If the box lacks a ribbed surface, I should call it a double lidded snuff box. Yes still curious to know where those boxes have been made. Only for the record, the 800 is not a hallmark but a mark because the 800 is not a guarantee given by an official assayer, hence the lack of official hallmarks.

Regards,

Oel

Hello Oel,

Yes the small compartment on the right has a ribbed surface, for lighting the matches on the right side of the box. But the main compartment only has a length of 7 cm which I thought to small to be a cigarette case.

Geert

Hi -
your case is as oel stated a cigarette case with match safe and striker plate. The gilded centerpiece does not belong to the case and was later added - otherwise the engraving would not go under the centerpiece. Only a 800 mark (800/1000) is a little dubious.

Regards
Postnikov