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Antique Guilloche Enamel Cigarette case .900 silver
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These were hand-painted in Italy,
during the 1950s and 60s.
They are now collected worldwide.
European Enameled Case, for thin cigars or cigarettes.
1870-1880
Made of pewter, it's quite unique and has lots of fine details.
The gorgeous enamel colors,
with Victorian scenes of lovers or
Renaissance images, are so bright & detailed.
So much romance in the air...!
Look closely at the backs of these Enameled lighters, they are decorated with amazing different scrolled designs or flowers.
Some special ones have enamel
on both front and back,
like on the back of this green lighter.
Vintage Stratton Lipview Enamel Compact Lipstick Holder Case & Mirror.
"Vienna Enamel Cigarette Case"
1897 to 1922 Made in Austria,
.935 Sterling Silver.
"Stratton" Enamel Cigarette Case
"Made in England".
1940's Philip Morris
Bellhop Art Deco Bellboys!
They are fun to collect & display.
The Philip Morris cigarette pack is period correct (unopened since 1939).
Vintage 1950's "Saturn" Enameled cigarettes' holder globe
with matching lighters.
Their wide rims are decorated with all the signs of the Zodiac.
"Marie Antoinette" Enamel Lighter.
"The birth of Venus" by Italian Artist:
Sandro Botticelli (1485)
"The birth of Venus", head of Venus
by Italian Artist:
Sandro Botticelli (1486)
It is quite obvious
that this lighter's scene
is the re-creation of
"Venus"
from the painting on the right.
1940s Ronson Princess
in a tortoise finish.
The casing of the enamel lighters comes in
gold or silver plated that has been stamped.
The enamel sometimes wears off, like on the lid of this one (right),
however the scene on the case is still intact.
Rarely will you find one with paisley scrollwork !(above) .
This is the lovely "Saint Fabiola",
a noble Roman Lady
who was born in Rome, Italy
and died in 399 (AD).
French Jean-Jacques Henner painted this portrait of Fabiola, in a classical Roman profile, in 1885;
the idealized rendition of the Saint was lost in 1912.
These 2 Enamel Lighters can only be the results of the inspiration from the story and paintings (reproductions)
of "Saint Fabiola".
They happen to be my "favorite" ones!
Here is a matching scene on this cigarette case
with the slim lighters on both sides of it.
You will notice a few differences as each case and lighter has been painted individually.
Stunning Enamel cigarette cases can be found
with the same lovely scene,
to match the lighters,
however,
they will come with little variances in colors
and/or on the background scene as seen
in this case & lighter.
"Fabiola" lighters.
The "mysterious Red Veil Lady" has quite an amazing life story.
The unknown and talented artists have sometimes created the same scene (as on these 4 lighters) to be painted with slight differences. I find it intriguing and fascinating!
"Fabiola"
B i o g r a p h y
Fabiola belonged to the patrician Roman family of the gens Fabia.
She had been married to a man who led so vicious a life, that to live with him was impossible.
She obtained a divorce from him according to Roman law and, contrary to the ordinances of the Church,
she entered upon a second union before the death of her first husband.
At the time of St. Jerome's stay at Rome (382-84 AD),
Fabiola was not one of the ascetic circle which gathered around him.
It was only later that, upon the death of her second consort, she decided to enter upon a life of renunciation and labour for others. On the day before Easter, following the death of her second consort, she appeared before the gates of the Lateran basilica, dressed in penitential garb,
and did public penance for her sin, which made a great impression upon the Christian population of Rome.
The pope received her formally again into full communion with the Church.
Fabiola now renounced all that the world had to offer her,
and devoted her immense wealth to the needs of the poor and the sick.
She erected a fine hospital in Rome, and waited on the inmates herself,
not even shunning those afflicted with repulsive wounds and sores.
Besides this, she gave large sums of money to the church and to religious communities in Rome,
and other places in Italy.
All her interests were centered on the needs of the Church, and for the care for the poor and suffering.
In 395AD she went to Bethlehem, where she lived in the hospice of the convent directed by Saint Paula
and applied herself under the direction of St. Jerome,
with the greatest intensity to the study and contemplation of the Scriptures and to ascetic exercises.
An incursion of the Huns into the eastern provinces of the empire and the quarrel
which broke out between Jerome and John II, Bishop of Jerusalem respecting the teachings of Origen
made residence in Bethelehem unpleasant for her an she returned to Rome.
She remained, however, in correspondence with St. Jerome, who at her request wrote a treatise on the priesthood of Aaron and the priestly dress. At Rome, Fabiola united with the former senator Saint Pammachius in carrying out a great charitable undertaking; together they erected at Portus a large hospice for pilgrims coming to Rome.
Fabiola also continued her usual personal labours in aid of the poor and sick until her death on 27 December 399.
Italian
"Vittore Carpaccio"
from Venice,
painted this
young musician, playing the lute in 1510,
from the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.
It is being compared
here to the
details, that are well reproduced,
on this stunning
Enamel Cigarette Case.
Mostly from the 1950's & 60s, these regular or slim size enameled lighters are made of .800 - .925 silver.
Their Zippo inserts, if original,
are the only way to properly date them.
Double-sided Enameled Lighters are a prize to own!
William Shakespeare's
"Romeo & Juliet
Balcony scene painting" by Hans Makart
might have been the inspiration
to create this gorgeous case cover.
Red "Windmill" globe comes with music box and lighter rotates when playing. Cool!
1940's Italian .8OO silver Enameled Comb!
Antique Italian Enameled Compact Cases with mirror 800 silver,
hand painted in the same era than the lighters seeing on this page.
Stunning Enameled Compact case 800 Silver with lipstick holder & mirror inside the case (all in one!).
Enameled Lipstick Holder with mirror.
"The Swing" lighter AKA the "Happy Accidents of the Swing" also painted, in the past, by Jean Renoir and Jean-Honore Fragonard in 1767-68.
Jean-Honoré Fragonard BIOGRAPHY
Early Years:
Jean-Honoré Fragonard led a full and charmed life. Moving from the South of France to Paris at a young age, his drawing skills were noticed by early employers as well as the Rococo painters Chardin and Boucher, both of whom he worked under as an apprentice.
After winning the Prix de Rome, Fragonard spent some years in Italy at the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. Returning to Paris, he was admitted to the Royal Academy in 1765 and made a moderate name for himself with scenic paintings based on his Italian landscape drawings, created from idealized pastoral subject matter.
Intermediate Years:
Between the years of 1765-1770 Fragonard really made a name for himself amongst the aristocratic set, with his fanciful erotic portraits and lighthearted sexual scenes such as The Swing, possibly his most famous work.
Advanced Years:
Married in 1773, Fragonard's paintings focused more on domestic themes, particularly after the birth of his daughter Rosalie, who became one of his favorite models.
As charming and witty as his paintings, Jean-Honoré Fragonard was one of the most prolific artists of his time, producing more than 550 works during his career.
This Zippo case holds my most precious and admired Italian made lighters.
