GERMANY 1915 Art Nouveau Antique Duck Head Cigar Cutter In Plated Silver

An Austrian art-nouveau cigar cutter made by Oskar Dietrich. This is a beautiful cigar cutter created in Austria during the late art-nouveau period, back in the 1900-1920, The cigar...

An art deco petrol lighter designed by Naldun. Very beautiful and useful petrol lighter, created in America by the Naldun Company, back in the 1930. It was crafted as a slider piece in the art deco style, with an octagonal shape in solid .925/.999 sterling silver. Embellished on top with an Essex glass piece depicting the intaglio carving of a horse. It is in great shape with minimal trace of wear, with no dings, marks or bumps. The Essex glass piece is in perfect shape with remains of all the vibrant colors. Weight: 16.40 Grams, (10.51 Dwt). Size: Octagonal Small. Measurements: 15 mm by 15 mm by 43 mm (0.59 x 0.59 x 1.70 Inches). Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark, the mark for the assay of the silver and signed, "NALDUN REG. MADE IN U.S.A PAT. PEND. STERLING". Essex Glass Essex crystal pieces are formed from a rock crystal cabochon (polished domes of rock crystal with a flat base), an image or motif is then reverse carved into the flat base, and then painted, to give them impression of a three dimensional object or image encapsulated in the cabochon when viewed from above. Production of a reverse crystal intaglio begins with the mining and cutting of fine rock crystal from Brazil or Madagascar. A well-formed cabochon is the key to a beautifully made reverse intaglio and the tedious process of hand polishing it to perfection had to be completed before the design work could begin. A watercolor rendering of the image was painted on the underside of the cabochon and an oil and diamond dust mixture was used along with up to 250 scribing tools to carve the design into the interior of the crystal “…the deeper the carving the more pronounced trompe l’oeil effect.” Once the carving was established the painting process began with extremely fine brushes and paint working in reverse to create incredibly detailed images. This process of carving into the back of the cabochon is sometimes referred to as reverse intaglio, not be to mistaken with intaglio, which is designed to be viewed from the same side on which it is carved, unlike Essex crystal. Particularly when the image is of something which is itself small in reality, such as an insect, they can be very convincing when created by skilled craftsman. Thomas Cook was believed to be responsible for introducing them to Britain from the continent in the 1860s, and there were initially sold by Hancock’s in London. During the same period the artist William...

Superior petrol lighter made by the Brüder Eisert Company. This is an original modernist pocket petrol lighter from the post-war period. Created in Vienna Austria by the Bruder Eise...

Tik-Tak petrol lighter made by the Arthur Dubsky Company. This is a beautiful and rare pocket petrol lighter, original from the art deco period. Created in Vienna Austria by the Art...

Nickel Silver Cigar, Cigarette or 420 Cutter in the form of a Repoussé Duck A wonderfully decorative piece, also in great working condition to cut 420 or Cigars. A compliment to ...

Figural cigar cutter with ash tray in the shape of a maribou, leaning over a bowl. The bird's-eye is the opening for the cigar and the beak is the knife. the stub falls into the bowl...

Silver Metal Bottle Opener Duck, Kitchenware, France 1960s. Vintage bottle opener from the 1960's figuring a duck. Very fine, chiseled details to depict the plumage on the body. N...

Impressive vintage Gentleman's Cigar Cutter by well known German maker, Rostfrei. This circa mid-century desk top wedge cigar cutter is of top quality sturdy construction in steel wi...