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AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN PILOT CIGARETTE CASE, JEWELLER MADE IN STERLING SILVER AND BLACK ENAMEL

Austro-Hungarian cigarette case, jeweller made in sterling silver and black enamel. Front of case depicts a pilot on an airfield in the pouring rain, with the title ‘Aspern 1912’.

Aspern is the large airfield in use prior to and during WW1 by the Austro-Hungarian air force. It is located just outside Vienna and was also the site of the battle of Aspern-Essling in 1809 when Napoleon failed in his attempt to cross the Danube and take Vienna. This case seems to be a comical representative of this.

In detailed black enamel on silver, an Austrian pilot is fuming in a downpour, his hand in his jacket and his flying cap askew in the manner of Napoleon, while floodwaters ground around him and carry of an umbrella, boot and binoculars. He is obviously upset his grand design to soar like an eagle has been thwarted by weather. Similarly Napoleon got his wings clipped while moving his troops across the Danube river channels, taken at the flood due to snow melt, which washed out his plans to take Vienna.

Case measures 94 x 72 mm and 10mm deep. Both sides hallmarked, right side maker marked by Viennese jeweller.

Condition is fantastic as is the engraving and enamel work. A very attractive and comical early pilots case; could it have been a gift to a French pilot visiting Aspen pre War??

Code J1742        Price £845