Description Hallmarked Stirling From our Accessories collection, we are delighted to offer a very rare Cigarette Box specifically manufactured for Rolls Royce featuring the Spirit of Ecstasy. The cigarette box of typical rectangular form fully cast in solid sterling silver with an inset lid featuring the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy with a shadow double. The exterior is finished with a front thumb tab for opening and the engraved initials J. L. F. to whom it was first presented to directly from Rolls Royce. The side of the cigarette box features the sterling Silver hallmarks for Saunders & Shepherd, London 1928. The interior of the Cigarette Box is lined in Cedar and contains a single partition for varying size cigars or cigarettes. Rolls Royce Desk Set The Rolls Royce desk set was a collection of Sterling Silver Objects that were commissioned directly by Rolls Royce Motors between 1926-1937. They were given strictly as corporate gifts to those who were considered particularly important that year and therefore never came to market. It is believed Rolls Royce commissioned 12 different pieces over an 11 year span, missing one year in 1931. Saunders and Shepard silversmiths were chosen for all the products except the first one, which was an Ashtray made by Crown jewellers Garrard of Regent St. Due to their rarity and unknown number pieces from the so-called ‘desk set’ are highly prized by collectors and enthusiasts. Saunder and Shepherd was founded in London 1869 by Cornelius Desormeaux Saunders Sr & James Francis Hollings Shepard. They were a manufacturing jewellers out of 23 Bartlett’s Buildings in Holborn Circus. They specialised in mourning jewellery but branched out into all other avenues of jewellery from earrings to necklets. In 1890 Cornelius Desormeaux Saunders passed away and the business was taken on by his three sons and converted into a limited company in 1916 Saunders & Sheperd Ltd and factories in London, Birmingham and Glasgow and continued manufacturing until the company dissolved in 2021. Cedar, also known as Lebanon Cedar, True Cedar can be found in Asia, Europe and North Africa. Cedar trees are long lived and often offer a poor quality, knotty wood. Logs used for veneer are carefully chosen to make sure they have a clean, straight grain. African Cedar, or Bosse, found in West Africa is a pink-brown colour when fresh, turning into a dark almost mahogany colour with age. Brazilian Cedar found in South America is a medium brown colour. Western Red Cedar is found in North America. A more durable cedar with a colour ranging from pink-brown to dark red. Sterling Silver is an alloy composed by weight of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness (parts per thousand) of 925. With every purchase from Mark Goodger Antiques, you will receive our latest catalogue, a Certificate of Authenticity, detailed care instructions for your chosen piece and an independent invoice (for insurance purposes) will be enclosed. As well as being protected by a no-hassle, money-back policy, your piece will be entirely insured during the shipping process to ensure the safety of your item.
