Tobacco jar - .900 silver

Splendid and extremely rare antique collectible pocket case (perfect as a modern business-card holder or cigarette case), a masterpiece of European silverware. The piece features magnificent workmanship entirely executed in niello with fine hand-engraved incisions on the exterior surface, while the interior is embellished with a rich, thick vermeil gilding.

The Hallmarks and Historical Significance:
An item of exceptional value for collectors, on the inner edge is clearly stamped the official guarantee hallmark of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (Mint of Naples, active between 1832 and 1872), depicting the profile of the nymph Parthenope. The key detail is the presence of the rare letter "E" (Foreigner). This mandatory customs mark certifies that the object entered Neapolitan territory in the mid-19th century as an imported precious article, being officially assayed and taxed by the local guild. A historical trace that lends a unique geopolitical charm to the piece.

The Front (Obverse): Features a central medallion (cartouche) finely engraved, depicting a noblewoman in eighteenth-century attire strolling along a stream in a wooded landscape. Below the scene lies a majestic mythological grotesque mask (grottesco), flanked by a sinuous serpent on the left and a roaring lion on the right, classic symbols of wisdom, protection and strength.

The Back (Reverse): 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: Enriched with a finely engraved geometric motif of small diamonds with geometric rays.

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

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

Condition: Excellent antique condition. The niello inserts are exceptionally intact, with minimal and honest signs of time that attest to its era. The hinge is solid, moves smoothly, and the case closes with a firm, clean, secure snap.

Collector’s note: An item of the highest level, perfect both as an everyday-use object of extreme elegance (card holder) and as a studio display piece. An extraordinary testament to ancient craftsmanship and to the historic European trade routes.