Check out this phenomenal c. 1920s cigarette case with an enamelplaque featuring the “New Woman” playing tennis. She’s wearing a short skirt(short meaning her calves were exposed, albeit with stockings), her forearmsare bare, and she sports a jaunty headband in her short bob—but perhaps mostfabulously, she has a gold bangle on her upper arm!!!

She looks to me like the famous French tennis player of this era,and one of the first professional female players, Suzanne Lenglen, although theresemblance could be generic. Lenglen scandalized people by wearing a more“revealing”—and practical—outfit like this one on the courts, and was a fashionicon off the courts, too, for her fur coats, silk clothes, red lipstick, and diamond-accentedheadscarves.

It's an amazing portrayal, very well-articulated painting, andfull of action and joie de vivre, celebrating the relative freedoms of theRoaring ‘20s. It is a very unusual piece—I have been unable to find anythingquite like it, although it relates to Edwardian and Art Deco cigarette casesand snuff boxes with enamel plaques representing other hunting, sports, andrakish past-times of the bon vivant gentlemen. But I have yet to come acrossanother such piece featuring a woman. Or, I should say, featuring a woman insuch a way that it wasn’t intended to titillate a man—I believe this could havebeen a cigarette case that a woman might have carried. How spectacular!Particularly for a serious collector with a passion for tennis and women’shistory.

Made of 900 silver, the cigarette case is in very good condition,though it lacks its original interior bands. The case has no notable dents ordings, and closes securely. I have left the slight tarnish to the case,although a new owner could choose to clean it. The enamel is in pristinecondition.

Not many of us carry cigarette cases anymore, but the case alsoserves for a wallet or card case. Or it makes a wonderful collectable, ofcourse.

900silver, enamel
91x 81 x 12mm, 147.94g
Verygood condition, missing original interior bands, some tarnish to exterior thatcould be polished, no significant dents, dings, or scratches, enamel is innearly perfect condition

Check out my Instagram account @photogemic.objects for many more pieces that are available but not yet listed!