Tobacco box - .800 silver - Silver tobacco automaton

Object Type: This is a vintage tobacco/cigarette dispenser, likely intended for tabletop use.
Material: The silver plates are 800-grade silver (80% pure silver), a standard purity for high-quality vintage European and Italian decorative items.
Maker & Provenance: The hallmark "FI 1406" identifies this as an Italian piece, where "FI" stands for Firenze (Florence) and "1406" is the unique registration number of the silversmith.
Estimated Date: Because the hallmark lacks the "star" symbol (introduced in 1968) and the fascio symbol (used 1934–1944), it was likely manufactured in the post-war period, between 1944 and 1968.

The item is fully functional, the mechanics work great, no pulling or noises, testament to the excellent quality of the Italian workmanship.