Tobacco jar - .900 silver

Splendid and extraordinarily rare antique pocket case for collection (perfect as a modern business-card holder or cigarette case), a masterpiece of European silverware. The object features a magnificent full niello work with finely hand-chiseled engravings on the exterior surface, while the interior is lavishly gilded with thick Vermeil.

The Stamps and Historical Importance:
An item of exceptional value for collectors, on the inner edge is clearly stamped with the official guarantee mark of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (Naples Mint, active between 1832 and 1872), depicting the profile of the nymph Parthenope. The crucial detail is the presence of the rare letter "E" (Exterior). This mandatory customs mark certifies that the object entered Neapolitan territory in the mid-1800s as a precious imported item, officially assayed and taxed by the local guild. A historical trace that gives the piece a unique geopolitical charm.

The Front (Dritto): Features a central medallion (cartouche) finely incised, portraying a noblewoman in 18th-century dress strolling along a stream in a wooded landscape. Beneath the scene sits a majestic mythological grotesque gargoyle, flanked by a sinuous serpent on the left and a roaring lion on the right, classic symbols of wisdom, protection, and strength.

The Back (Verso): Entirely decorated with a complex symmetric composition of rococo scrolls and acanthus leaves, creating an exceptional color contrast between the deep black of the niello and the luster of the silver.

The Sides: Richly adorned with a finely engraved geometric pattern of small diamonds with radiating geometric lines.

The Interior: Preserves a splendid and warm Vermeil gilding, conceived not only for aesthetics but to protect the content and prevent silver oxidation.

Dimensions: 8.8 cm × 5 cm × 1.7 cm
Weight: 105 grams (solid and substantial to the touch, indicating generous use of precious metal and niello thickness).

Condition: Excellent antique condition. The niello inserts are exceptionally intact, with minimal and honest signs of time that attest to the piece’s era. The hinge is sturdy, moves smoothly, and the box closes with a clean, secure click.

Note for the collector: An item of the very highest level, perfect both as an everyday-use object of extreme elegance (card holder) and as a showroom piece for study. An extraordinary testimony to ancient craftsmanship and to the historic European trade routes.