An antique jewel of art and history: the Leda and the Swan cigarette case
In the shimmering alleyways of old Vienna, where history is woven into the stones and secrets of art, an extraordinary cigarette case was once made. It was the end of the 19th century, a time when the aesthetics of art and the finesse of craftsmanship were reflected in the everyday objects of the aristocracy.
The case, forged from the finest 900 silver and with a weight that promised both quality and significance, was a masterpiece of gold and silversmithing from Vienna. However, it was not just the silver that made this case so special, but the scene immortalised on it - a sensually erotic depiction of Leda with the swan.
According to Greek mythology, Zeus fell in love with the beautiful Leda and approached her in the form of a swan. This encounter, laden with symbolism and dramatic poetry, has been depicted in many artistic forms over the centuries, but rarely as intimately and richly detailed as on this small work of art.
The enamel painting on the case, a work of magnifying glass painting, shows Leda in a delicate, almost floating dance with the heavenly swan. The colours are vivid and deep, each feather of the swan shimmers in the light, and Leda's figure is shrouded in an aura of grace and mystery. This depiction was not only art, it was also an expression of desire and the complex relationships between gods and mortals.
A family crest is engraved on the back of the case, bearing witness to the nobility for whom it was once made. .
The marking is unclear, but the literature by the author Waltraud Neuwirth, "Wiener Gold- und Silberschmiede und ihre Punzen 1867 - 1922", confirms that it is most likely a work by Alois Blahuschek, a gold and silversmith of that era.
Dimensions & details
- Silver 900
- Weight 121.79 g
- 9 x 6.6 x 1.3 cm
