This is a cute little desk top cigarette dispenser. It is probably not so popular an item now - but it is certainly a highly collectable item from 1930s Germany.
It takes the form of a metal cube - measuring 8 cm (cubed) - the lid is a little larger at 8.5 cm to allow for the wee lip at the front and the hinge at the back.
Unpacked the box is 400 grams.
It is beautifully made - with the side coated in a black enamel - with gold metal edging at the corners and around the edges. I have taken lots of images for your inspection. The top has a very stunning 30s Bauhaus enamel decoration on it - this is in excellent condition with no losses or issues with the paintwork.
When you lift the lid of the box, the little dispenser section rises up from the base of the box to the top. Again, this is beautifully made with each aperture ringed with a delicate metal edging. The hinges are so stylish and stop the lid from folding all the way back and tipping the box over.
It would have contained 25 cigarettes originally - and sat on a desktop for guests to help themselves. Smoking was all the rage back in the 30s - but no longer a popular pastime. This is perhaps an item to be treasured more for its decorative quality. Today it could be used to store little items like Caran D'Ache crayons inside.
It is marked DRGM below the hinge at the back. These initials stand for Deutsches Reichsgebrauchsmuster. This shows that the design was officially registered in all of the German states. I am not 100% sure of the German manufacturer, but it looks very similar to cigarette-related boxes made by Marianne Brandt for Ruppel Werke.
This is a rare little box and in such lovely condition - there is one tiny dent to the left-hand side of the box - to the bottom rear. You can only see this when you turn it to a raking light. My price reflects its relative rarity, condition and quality of the making.
UK Postage will be with Royal Mail Recorded Small Parcel. This will be applied to your order at the checkout.