Description

Cedar Wood Lining

From our Silver collection, we are pleased to offer this Art Deco Sterling Silver Cigar Box. The Cigar Box of slim rectangular shape crafted from Sterling Silver features engine turned panels to each side with a heavily tapered body raised upon stepped feet. The exterior has two patterned line borders one to the base meeting the feet and one on the top and is finished with a straight thumb tab to the front on the lid. When opened the box reveals the original Birch wood lining with an adjustable partitions for varying sized cigars. The inside of the lid is heavily gilded and does contain some scratching. The Box is hallmarked twice, London, Sterling Silver by Padgett & Braham Ltd and dated 1929.

Padgett & Braham Ltd was founded by Stanley Padgett (1897 – 1986) an entrepreneur with a family background in the jewellery and silversmith trade who, at the age of 25, bought his first business J. Braham Ltd with a bank loan of £100. It employed three silversmiths and one polisher to make silver cigarette cases. Mr Padgett went on to acquire more firms between the 1930s and 1960s including the silversmiths C.H. Dumenil in 1938, Wakely and Wheeler in 1957, the gilders and platers Pairpoint and Sons in 1963 and the Flute Makers’ Guild and the Birmingham silversmiths W.H. Manton in 1964. Monarch Shield Ltd, the company which introduced a tarnish free silver protection to the UK, was added in 1966. By this date the company had over 70 employees. A contemporary article about the firm stated that “since the war, Mr Padgett has been collecting craftsmen – his aim being to assemble under one roof the most skilled teams of experts available.” The Birmingham gold wedding ring specialists H. Aston joined the business in 1969 and Stanley Padgett’s son John Padgett continued this tradition adding Edward Barnard and Sons to the business in 1977. The insignia workshop was taken over from Garrards in the 1980s. The shrinking market for commercially produced silver led to the diminution of the trade and the business finally closed in 2006.

Birch grows in parts of Northern Europe, Asia and North America. It is an almost white wood that with age will appear more yellow, with a very subtle grain giving a clean look to the wood.

Sterling Silver refers to the alloy of metal containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper or zinc. Sterling Silver objects are stamped with the 925 mark to confirm their authenticity.

With every purchase from Mark Goodger Antiques, you will receive our latest catalogue, a Certificate of Authenticity, detailed care instructions for your chosen piece and an independent invoice (for insurance purposes) will be enclosed. As well as being protected by a no-hassle, money-back policy, your piece will be entirely insured during the shipping process to ensure the safety of your item.

Additional information