-Louis Kuppenheim 1927 Guilloché Green Enamel Vesta Box In 925 Silver Pill Box

An enameled vesta pill-box by Louis Kuppenheim.

A fabulous matches vesta-box, created in the city of Pforzheim Germany back in the 1920. This superb pocket box in very rare and was carefully crafted with neo-classical patterns in solid .925/.999 sterling silver and finished with 24kt gilded interiors. This piece show no trace of use and exceptional workmanship with remarkably details as you expect from the iconic jewelry workshop of the famous Louis Kuppenheim. The box is decorated in all their sides, with engine turned Guilloché  design topped with translucent green glass enamel. It is fitted with a concealed five-barrels hinge and a thumb pressure lock. Actually, this little box can be easily used as a pill box.

Weight: 50.2 Grams, (32.18 Dwt).

Measurements: 57 mm by 39 mm by 12 mm (2.25 x 1.54 x 0.47 Inches).

Hallmarks: Stamped with British Crown imports marks for the city of London, the assayer/importer mark M.B.&Co, the mark for the assay of the .925 silver and the gothic letter code M for the year of 1927.

Louis Kuppenheim

The company was grounded in 1854 by Louis Kuppenheim (1824-1889) and Heinrich Witzenmann, specialized in silver and gold and -enameled artefacts. On the World Exhibition in 1900 the firm received a gold medal for a letter opener. In that same year the company opened a branch in the Rue Richelieu 67 in Paris. In these years some designs by Hans Christiansen were executed, amongst them very delicately enameled silver cigarette cases. The enamels on the several silver and gold pieces was of very high standard, and sometimes even gems like rubies were applied. Very famous were the ladies silver vanity cases with cute animals like cats and monkeys that are regularly sold on the better auctions and are very wanted.

Vesta boxes

Vesta cases are small portable boxes made to contain matches and keep them dry. They take their name from the Roman goddess of fire and the hearth, although in the United States they are more prosaically know as match safes. The first successful friction match appeared in 1826, and in 1832 William Newton patented the "wax vesta" in England. It consisted of a wax stem with embedded cotton threads and a tip of phosphorus. Antique Vesta Cases were made popular in Victorian times where they were worn on a chatelaine belt or men's fob to contain wax matches. They're usually solid sterling silver, and on the rare occasion, solid gold. Quite often engraved with the owner's initials.

Guilloché 

This term is used in fine jewelry to enhance the appearance of brooches, rings and pendants. Guilloché enamel refers to metal pieces that have been given the Guilloché treatment and then covered with a translucent layer of enamel, giving the geometric patterns underneath the enamel a colorful hue.

Collateral: This piece is presented and accompanied by a jewelry pouch.

Condition: The overall condition of this vesta-match / pill-box is impeccable. Beside the little normal wear, there is no damage to the silver. All parts are secured in the settings. This piece has been carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and authenticity.

INVENTORY REF: D051924TNNB/1.488