Photo Credit: bigsmile_treasures
14K Gold & Bakelite Art Deco Cigar Holder
Buy It Now Price: $395 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)
Pros:
-Sumptuous 14 karat gold and amber-yellow Bakelite seamlessly blend in this chic 1920s Art Deco cigar holder and case combination.
-The case measures 45 mm (1.77 inches) long (including the bail) and weighs a substantial 8.5 grams (excluding the cigar holder).
–Vintage cigar holders were important fashion accessories during the early to mid 20th century. But they also served two practical purposes. They prevented nicotine staining of the fingers and kept smoke out of the user’s face.
-Patented in 1909, Bakelite was the world’s first synthetic plastic. For the first few decades after its invention, Bakelite was considered a premium luxury material appropriate for use in high value objects like jewelry. In this Art Deco cigar holder, Bakelite is being used to imitate amber – a popular material for high end cigar holders of the time.
-The bail at the bottom of this Art Deco cigar holder’s case indicates that it was probably intended to be hung from a woman’s neck as a pendant.
-My best guess is that this Art Deco cigar holder and case contain around 0.16 troy ounces (5 grams) of pure gold. With the price of gold trading near $1,314, this gives the piece a scrap value close to $210 – a premium of only 88% over melt. Although you would never want to scrap such a beautiful piece, the low premium over melt clearly limits investment risk.
-Smoking was a way for women in the 1920s to signal their independence and avant-garde social outlook. But what’s interesting about this piece is that I believe it was intended for a female cigar smoker. Why is this meaningful? In the Roaring 20s, bad girls smoked cigarettes, but really bad girls smoked cigars!
-I love the linear pin-stripe decoration on this vintage gold cigar case. It is quintessentially Art Deco and perfectly reflects the zeitgeist of the age. Combine that with the item’s excellent condition and you have yourself an investment grade antique!
–Tobacciana is a burgeoning niche in the world of antiques, and this superlative Art Deco cigar holder and case duo are about as good as it gets.
-I find the buy-it-now price of $395 for this vintage Art Deco cigar holder to be extremely compelling. However, you can always make the seller a lower offer if you want to take a chance on getting this treasure for an even better price.
Cons:
-Unless you are a cigar smoker, this item is purely a curio or objet d’art. Honestly, I find this to be a very minor drawback, but worth mentioning nonetheless.
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