French Country · Encyclopedia · Jewelry and Accessories
Cigarette Case
Metal cases for cigarettes.
Fashion Accessories · Indicative US retail $30–$2,000
At a glance
- Family: Fashion Accessories
- Periods most often found: Most date from 1900 to 1960.
- Typical price: about $150; range $30 to $2,000 and more for exceptional pieces
- What drives value: Silver, enamel
What it is
Cigarette cases protected cigarettes in a pocket or handbag, from the 1880s to the 1960s. Silver cases with engine-turned guilloché patterns, enamel cases with Art Deco geometric or erotic scenes, gold cases by Cartier and Boucheron, and lacquered cases by Jean Dunand are collected; Russian silver cases with niello are another family.
How to identify and date it
Silver cases carry hallmarks inside (French Minerva head, English lion passant, Russian 84 zolotniki). Check the hinge and clasp, which wear with use, the inside elastic band, the enamel for chips, and engravings, which can personalize or reduce value.
Periods and styles
Most date from 1900 to 1960.
How much is it worth?
On the US retail market, most cigarette case examples ask around $150. Simple or worn pieces start near $30, while documented, signed or exceptional examples can pass $2,000. The main value drivers are: silver, enamel. These are indicative ranges, not an appraisal; see our price guide for French antiques for the method.
Before you buy
- Read hallmarks
- Test the clasp and hinge
- Inspect enamel
Living with it
A cigarette case makes an elegant holder for business cards, or a small object on a desk.
More in Fashion Accessories
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How we write these guides: identification notes are general guidance written by French Country; a style name, a region or a resemblance does not by itself date or attribute a piece. Price ranges are indicative US retail asking prices for antique and vintage examples in sound condition (dealers, specialist marketplaces and auctions), estimated and rounded as of November 2026; check recent sold results before relying on a figure. They are not appraisals or offers to buy or sell: condition, provenance and documentation can move a value far outside the range. For insurance, estates or sales, ask an independent, qualified appraiser for a written valuation.