ANTIQUE 20thC AUSTRIAN SOLID SILVER & ENAMEL CIGARETTE CASE, VIENNA c.1910
20th Century Austria silver & enamel cigar case, of rounded rectangular form, the surface applied with multi-coloured and shaded enamels depicting Leda and the Swan, the reverse is plain, the inside is richly parcel gilt. Leda and the Swan is a story from the Greek mythology in which the king of all gods Zeus, transforms into the form of a swan, to seduces or rape Leda. According to later Greek mythology, Leda gave birth to Helen and Polydeuces, children of Zeus, while at the same time bearing Castor and Clytemnestra, children of her husband Tyndareus, the King of Sparta.
Hallmarked with Austrian and German marks, a German mark moon and crescent (800 standard), Vienna (A), Austrian dogs head mark (800 standard), Maker's mark G.A.S for Scheid Georg Adam.
Reference Number: C6673
DESCRIPTION
Antique early-20th Century Austrian large and exceptional solid silver & enamel cigar case, of rounded rectangular form, the surface applied with multi-coloured and shaded enamels depicting Leda and the Swan, the reverse is plain, the inside is richly parcel gilt. Leda and the Swan is a story from the Greek mythology in which the king of all gods Zeus, transforms into the form of a swan, to seduces or rape Leda. According to later Greek mythology, Leda gave birth to Helen and Polydeuces, children of Zeus, while at the same time bearing Castor and Clytemnestra, children of her husband Tyndareus, the King of Sparta.
Both sides of the case are Hallmarked with Austrian and German marks, a German mark moon and crescent (800 standard), Vienna (A), Austrian dogs head mark (800 standard), Maker's mark G.A.S for Scheid Georg Adam, active in Vienna (Austria), Scheid completed a commercial apprenticeship until 1853 and subsequently worked in Pforzheim and Stuttgart. In 1858 he went to Vienna and worked there in the workshop of his future father-in-law, the silverware producer and jeweler Michael Markowitsch. Together they founded the OHG Markowitsch & Scheid in 1862. 20 years later, he left the thriving company and founded in 1882 under his name a jewelry factory and 1884 also the Georg Adam Scheid'sche Affinerie, from which later the Ögussa emerged. In 1911 he retired. His jewelery works bear the marks "G.A.S. " or "S.G.A. " and often the German hallmark "Crescent and Crown"
CONDITION
In Excellent Condition - No Damage, just general wear.
SIZE
Length: 12.5cm
Width: 2 x 8cm
Weight: 246g
