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Austrian Silver Cigarette Case - Kaiser Frederick III, 1488-1888
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Reference: S1674
Period: George V
Year: Circa 1925
Silversmith: Oscar Julius Dietrich
Place: Wien (Vienna)
Price: $ 1 050.00
Weight: 242 grams
Dimensions: 10.5 cm *7.8cm *2.2cm
Condition: Excellent, hinge perfect, snug closure. No dents or scratches.
Description: An Austrian silver cigarette case, with an interesting commemorative double sided medallion by Lauer of Nuremberg, celebrating a 400 year jubilee (1488-1888), set in the lid. The case is ribbed, and has a gilded interior, and gold thumb piece. The case is fabulous quality, very heavy and beautifully made, the hinge is almost invisible, clearly the work of a master craftsman. The medallion is double sided, it was struck to commemorate Kaiser Frederick III, King of Prussia and German Emperor, who came to the throne in 1888, who is on the back of the medallion, in full armour wearing a crown. Unfortunately he died 99 days later of throat cancer, so it was a short reign. He was a liberal and was married to Princess Victoria, eldest daughter of Queen Victoria, historians have speculated that had he remained on the throne longer the Great War might never had happened.The front of the medallion depicts the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III (same name) Archduke of Austria and King of Germany, in crown and armour, with the date 1488, (he died in 1493) - also called Frederick the Peaceful. We assume the medallion is connecting the new Kaiser Frederick III with his famous ancestor, and creating a 400 year jubilee celebration between the two. The front reads "KAISER FRIEDR III ERHEBT D EDLEN WILH SCHIRNDINGER Z REGIER REICHSFRH Z NEUHAUS EGER 29:VII". The back reads "ZUR 400 JAHRIGEN JUBILAUMSFEIER D REGIERENDEN REICHSFRH WILH SCHIRNDINGER Z NEUHAUS E 29:VII" (we welcome assistance with translation, thanks).
both the base and the lid are hallmarked, with the Austrian Hoopoe bird's head mark used after 1922, with number 1 indicating 925 sterling standard, and w representing Wien. In addition, both are struck with "925", and makers mark "OD" for Oscar Julius Dietrich, who worked in Vienna between 1853 and 1931. The firm was well regarded, they exhibited in both the 1900 and 1925 Paris exhibitions.
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Austrian silver cigarette case - Kaiser Frederick 111, 1488-1888
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Austrian silver hallmarks
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Front of coin/ medallion - Kaiser Frederick III
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Back of coin
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Silver cigarette case - open, gilded interior
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Gold thumbpiece
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Silver cigarette case - hinge
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Austrian silver hallmarks 2
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Scale
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