Description
Hallmarked
From our Silver collection, we are delighted to offer this Art Nouveau Silver and Enamel Cigarette Case from Vienna, Austria. The Silver and Enamel Cigarette Case of stunning Art Nouveau design with a central enamel scene depicting the legend of St. Hubert, Patron Saint of hunters with the divine deer. The scene features St. Hubert in the foreground dressed much like the later Robin Hood with feathered cap carrying a cross bow. In the background the divine deer stands on a river bank with long antlers portraying a crucifix between them amongst foliage and trees. The Scene flanked by Art Nouveau design upon a Silver case with push button thumb tab. The interior of the Cigarette Case is finished in silver-gilt with an inscription to the left hand side reading Mr et Mdme. Dr Groedel Hietzing 20/VII 1900. (20/07/1900). The Silver and Enamel Cigarette Case is hallmarked twice on the thumb tab, once below the ‘1900’ and twice on the right hand side of the inner case. The last hallmarks feature an illegible makers mark however it is clear that the hallmarks show the hexagonal Dianakopf (Diana’s head) mark showing the silver is .900 fineness and dated to between 1872-1922 inline with the inscription date of 1900.
Dianakopf (Diana’s Head) was first used in 1867 the cartouche shape and number within indicate the silver fineness. Beginning in 1872, a letter was added to indicate city of assay. The hallmark comes in varied shapes depending on the year and fineness.
Hietzing is the 13th municipal District of Vienna. It is located west of the central districts, west of Meidling. Hietzing is a heavily populated urban area with many residential buildings but also contains large areas of the Vienna Woods, along with Schönbrunn Palace.
St. Hubert The legend of St. Hubert holds that on a Good Friday morning, while the faithful were in church, Hubert was hunting in the forest. As he pursued a magnificent stag or hart, the animal turned and Hubert was astounded to see a crucifix floating between its antlers. He heard a voice saying: “Hubert unless thou turnest to the Lord and leadest a holy life, thou shalt quickly go down into Hell.” Hubert dismounted and prostrated himself, and after asking “Lord, what wouldst thou have me do?” is told, “Go and seek Lambert, and he will instruct you.”
The story of the stag first appears in one of the later legendary hagiographies (Bibliotheca hagiographic Latina, nos. 3994–4002) and has been appropriated from the legend of Saint Eustace or Placidus. It was only attributed to Saint Hubert in the 15th century.
Enamel (vitreous enamel) also known as porcelain enamel, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C. The powder melts, flows, and then hardens to a smooth, durable vitreous coating. The word vitreous comes from the Latin vitreous, meaning “glassy”.
Antique a collectable object such as a piece of furniture or work of art that has a high value because of its age and quality. Objects of this nature are generally considered antique at 100 plus years of age.
Art Nouveau was an international style of art and architecture, especially the decorative arts. It was inspired by natural forms such as the curves of plants and flowers. Other characteristics of Art Nouveau were a sense of dynamism, movement and the use of modern materials particularly iron, glass and ceramics to create unusual forms. It was popular between 1890 and 1910 during the Belle Époque period and before the First World War. It was a reaction against the academic art, eclecticism and historicism of 19th century architecture and decoration.
Measurements 9cm High x 8cm Wide x 1.5cm Deep ( 3.55 x 3.15 x 0.6 Inches)
Condition Very Good, minor use wear consistent with age.
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