Vintage 1950s KIGU Barrel Cigarette Case or Lipstick Holder with Engine Turned Enamel Lid

This is a very lovely late 1950s or early 1960s vintage Kigu metal case. It comes in its original retail box, as photographed.  

It would have originally been designed to store a few little cigarettes for a lady to pop in her handbag and have a wee sneaky "puff" perhaps at a party or event.  These days it might be considered more of a glamourous box to keep a special lipstick in - or little personal effects.   

This is a very pretty example and a rarer example - with its cream-coloured engine-turned enamel or guilloche enamel on the lid and a sweet little marcasite floral embellishment.   

It is barrel-shaped and made of a warm gold-coloured metal. It has a cream-coloured guilloche enamel on the top - there are little areas to the left-hand side (only noticeable under a magnifying glass) - and has plain engine-turned decoration on the base. Each end is decorated with vertical parallel ridges. It is hinged to the back and it can be opened up completely flat. It has a good hinge and snaps shut easily and securely. Behind the catch section inside - you can see the words: Made in England / Kigu.   

The case is clean and in excellent condition. The matt gold interior is without scratching. The best thing about this little case - is the applied marcasite navette-shape and floral embellishment on the lid. The marcasite decoration that twinkles in the light. This is a rare survivor with the fine enamelling and its original box and felt pouch - this is reflected in my asking price. 

Dimensions: 3 1/2 inches in length (9 cm); The height is just over an inch (3 cm). The depth is just over 1 1/2 inches (4.2 cm).