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Hoka Snuffbox (Hohmann & Katz) – Art Deco

The Hoka snuffbox is a luxury tobacco accessory, made by the renowned German goldsmith workshop Hohmann & Katz (Hoka) in Pforzheim, in the interwar period (approx. 1920–1930). The object is a representative example of the Art Deco style, combining geometric rigor with the elegance of vegetal ornaments.

The piece is notable for its hybrid design, characteristic of the transition from Art Nouveau to Art Deco:

Body: Decorated with “guilloché” (horizontal and vertical parallel striations) on both sides, a technique intended to provide a refined texture and to mask signs of wear.

Decorative elements: The upper right corner and the central cartouche are ornamented with engraved floral motifs and highlighted by lines of cobalt blue enamel, made in the champlevé technique.

Monogram: On the main face there is a stylized heraldic shield, personalized with a cursive monogram indicating the exclusive character of the object.

Manufacturer: Hohmann & Katz, Pforzheim, Germany (marked “Hoka” on the opening button).

Material: Silver-plated alpaca (copper, nickel and zinc alloy, plated with a generous layer of silver).

Interior: Finished by blowing gold (vermeil), a treatment applied to prevent corrosion of the metal in contact with tobacco.

Closure system: Mechanism with side button and spring, discreetly integrated into the frame.
Standard pocket format, adapted for cigarettes of the era, provided with elastic fastening bands on the inside.
The Hoka workshop was one of the most important manufacturers of fine metal accessories in Pforzheim, the “jewelry city” in Germany. Such pieces were exported throughout Europe, including Romania, being considered symbols of social status.

Today, Hoka snuff boxes with original enamel and vermeil interior are sought-after collector's items, appreciated for the quality of German craftsmanship and for preserving the aesthetic of the "Jazz Age".
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