Vintage Egyptian Revival Damascene Cigarette Case, Gold Inlay on Blackened Steel with Pharaoh Figures, Art Deco Card Case

A 1920s–1930s Egyptian Revival cigarette case in damascene work, with large gold figures inlaid on matte blackened steel. One side shows a robed figure raising a fan before a seated statue on a pedestal; the other, a striding figure with a staff beside a papyrus plant and a small cartouche. The hand-chased detail in the gold, from scaled wigs to dotted robes, speaks to the wave of Egyptian design that followed the opening of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922. Slim and softly curved to sit in a pocket, it works just as well today for cards.

Materials
Blackened steel with gold damascene inlay, gilt interior frame

Details

• Era: 1920s–1930s
• Style / design notes: Cushion-shaped case decorated on both sides with large inlaid and chased figural scenes; unmarked
• Function: Hinged case with push-button clasp and interior elastic strap; suits cigarettes or cards
• Color: Black, gold
• Condition: Good vintage condition, some gold loss and oxidation in the background near the figures on one side, light wear to the gilt edges, and fraying to the interior elastic
• Measurement: Approximately 3.4" by 3"

Collected by Mineral and Matter