#74 • WWII Souvenir Cigarette Cases - Lot of 5

Part of TRENCH ART & WWI Memorabilia (live auction by Bannerman Auctions)

High bid $180.00

Status: Sold

Category: Britain

WWII Souvenir Cigarette Cases - Lot of 5 One commercially made sterling silver sweetheart piece is a 7cm square case with clipped corners and a checkered finish.  Lid is decorated with a red and blue enameled zig-zag band in the upper left corner and a Royal Artillery insignia on the lid.  Opens to reveal 1936 Birmingham assay marks and maker initials JWS.  Interior has an inscription "With love Roddy".  Has a solid hinge and a positively locking clasp. The other 4 are handmade souvenir pieces. One may be POW made, the others might be locally made souvenirs. 1)  14cm x 7.5cm aluminum case hinged on the short side.  The lid is engraved SIERRA LEONE 1945  with decorative leaves and grassy looking zig-zag shading. Reverse incised with a lion reclining under a palm tree and the inscription WEST AFRICA 1945 with more leaves and zig zags.  Interior has an engraving of a sailed ship on one half and somes leaves on the other.  There is a still snappy elastic band to retain the cigarettes and a good, positive clasp. 2)  14.3cm x 8.5cm aluminum case hinged on the long side.  Cover is engraved with with an image of the Taj Mahal with feathery leaves and background shading, reverse engraved with geometric patterns. Interior has a faint hammered swirl patten and an elastic band.  Clasp functions well. 3)  16cm x 7.6cm aluminum case hinged on the short side.  Cover is engraved with a nude woman astride a leaping gazelle or impala, reversea man in a loincloth wrestling a horse.  Interior is engraved with two POWs who appear to be wearing British battledress uniforms and hobnailed boots sitting back to back on one side and a soaring eagle on the other.  Retains a snappy elastic band and positive clasp.  This piece appears on page 350 of Jane Kimball's book Trench Art: An Illustrated History. 4  10.5 cm x 7.4cm box is hinged on the long side.  Lid depicts a village or barracks scene and the bottom a small vessel steaming off a coastline.  Interior is bright and clean, no clap.  This case is deeper, more of a box.  It is 1.6cm deep. Estimate: $60 - $120