Austrian Enamel and Alpaca Cigarette Case with a Portrait of a Lady, 1900

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A painted enamel portrait of a fashionable young woman defines the front of this compact personal case. Depicted in bust … Read more A painted enamel portrait of a fashionable young woman defines the front of this compact personal case. Depicted in bust profile facing forward, she wears an elaborate draped headscarf in shades of rose and magenta, tied softly beneath dark curls. The figure is positioned over an expanse of warm, luminous yellow enamel that fills the gently arched rectangular inset panel, edged by a polished metal border. The case body is constructed from alpaca, an alloy of nickel, copper, and zinc prized during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries for its bright silver-like lustre and resilience. Along the spine runs an extended six-part barrel hinge, which operates smoothly alongside a sprung push-button thumbpiece catch set into the opposite lip. The gently convex contours of the outer shell are subtly arched to rest comfortably inside a pocket. Dating to around 1900 and produced in Austria, where Vienna was a celebrated centre for fine enamelled small-work, the piece features an interior finished with rich gilding. Inside, two integrated retaining bands were originally fitted to hold individual cigarettes neatly in place. The metalwork is stamped with the clear 'Alpaca' designation. Measuring 9.4 cm in width by 7.3 cm in height, the piece survives in attractive antique order. The enamel panel remains intact within its secure bezel, showing only minimal surface traces consistent with careful pocket wear, while the reverse displays a polished, plain metal finish with faint age-related contact marks.
Up to 250V (Europe/UK Standard).The wiring of this item may be original and might need replacement, if not specified otherwise. See less