Splendid vintage Watrous Mfg. Co. sterling jeweled cigarette case

Silver : Sterling : Cigarette Case : Signed : Watrous Manufacturing Company : Monogram

 

Originally Maltby, Stevens & Company, the Watrous Mfg. Co. was started in 1896 in Wallingford, Connecticut and was one of the original companies that formed the International Silver Co. in 1898. Primarily a maker of silver plate, they also made some items in sterling such as this fine monogrammed sterling silver cigarette case with beautifully jeweled snap closure.

Signed with the W and sickle, it measures 2-7/8" front to back x 3-3/8" side to side x 1/2" thick. Fabulously curved to hug your contours, it's monogrammed with one set of initials on the front and nine on the back. I have no clue what that's about--maybe they all had to share it or something.

You can see that it's a little dinged up, was well used and loved, and there are a few signs of monkeying by the jeweled clasp, but whatever was done there was a success, because it now closes with the most resounding ~snap!~ you ever did hear. I gave it a light polish with a polishing cloth but you might want to go at it a little more zealously than I did. Or not...because it's perfectly functional as is too. Super sweet little case! (Packaged weight is 5 ozs. from zip code 55409)

Item ID: L-WMC