Hello dear customers,

Up for your consideration is this exceptionally rare antique French solid silver and niello vesta case / permanent match lighter, dating to circa 1900.

This fine Parisian luxury smoking accessory was manufactured by the French silversmiths Abit & Lopisgich, the partnership of Armand Abit and Gaston Lopisgich, active in Paris around the turn of the 20th century. Their partnership is documented from approximately 1898 to 1903, allowing this particular piece to be dated quite closely to circa 1899.

The entire exterior is beautifully decorated with an exceptionally fine geometric micro-cell niello pattern, producing an intricate honeycomb-like lattice of bright silver lines against the contrasting dark niello ground. The decoration continues over the body and hinged lid, demonstrating the high level of workmanship expected from a luxury Parisian accessory of this period.

The vesta features a spring-operated hinged lid and a deeply grooved match-striker surface incorporated into the top. Beside the striker is a circular opening intended for the removable wick , allowing the case to function as a reusable or “permanent” match lighter. A short silver safety chain is attached to the side.

The case bears important and identifiable French silver marks. The lozenge-shaped maker's mark of Abit & Lopisgich (A & L) is present together with the French boar's-head (tête de sanglier) guarantee hallmark, used on small articles of solid silver and indicating a minimum silver fineness of 800/1000.

Of particular historical interest, the inside of the lid is clearly stamped:

“LAURENT – Palais Royal 54”

This identifies the prestigious Paris retailer Laurent, located at No. 54 Palais-Royal. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the galleries of the Palais-Royal were among Paris's celebrated centers for luxury commerce, with specialist retailers offering jewelry, silverware, smoking accessories and other refined personal objects. Other period French silver objects bearing the same “Laurent Palais Royal 54” retailer's mark are also known.

The combination of the Abit & Lopisgich maker's mark, French boar's-head silver guarantee and Laurent Palais-Royal retailer's stamp gives this unusual object an especially interesting and well-defined Parisian provenance.

The vesta is in very good antique condition for approximately 125 years of age. The spring-operated lid remains functional and closes properly. There are some minor areas of wear/loss to the dark niello decoration on both sections, consistent with age and use. These imperfections are relatively insignificant to the overall appearance but are mentioned for accuracy.

A particularly attractive and uncommon example of Belle Époque Parisian silverwork and luxury smoking culture, combining ingenious functionality, intricate niello decoration and excellent documented maker and retailer marks.

Found at an estate sale in Paris, France.

Please review all photographs carefully, as they are an important part of the item description and show the condition, construction and hallmarks in detail.

Measures: 40 × 38 × 16 mm

Weight: 35 g

Maker: Abit & Lopisgich, Paris

Retailer: Laurent, Palais Royal 54, Paris

Date: circa 1900

Material: Solid silver, niello

Hallmarks: A & L maker's lozenge and French boar's-head silver guarantee mark

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