[COATS OF ARMS/SILVER 0.875] Tsarist Russia - 19th/20th century - Cigarette case with the Leliwa coat of arms, Kopeć(?) variant (Heraldry, Landed Gentry)

The object bears hallmarks, including the number “84” and a partially illegible workshop mark. The number “84” corresponds to a fineness of 84 zlotniki, meaning a silver content of approximately 875 parts per 1,000. Silversmith unknown T.K., Moscow 1908–1917. The identification of the material is confirmed by a certificate from the Assay Office in Warsaw dated May 24, 1978, issued for a cigarette case weighing 206.1 g. Testing revealed a silver fineness of approximately 0.875; the pins of the applied elements were determined to be made of base metal.
Weight: 206.1 g. Dimensions: 108.5 x 86.6 mm x 16 mm
The cigarette case takes the form of a flat, rectangular box with gently rounded corners and smooth edges. The two nearly identical halves of the body are connected by a long hinge running along one of the sides. On the opposite side is a locking mechanism activated by an oval, red cabochon set in a metal setting. The interior consists of two shallow, undivided compartments. Metal hooks, originally intended for attaching elastic bands to hold cigarettes in place, have been preserved along their edges. The interior surface has a warm, yellowish-silver hue, which may be a remnant of former gilding.
The entire exterior surface of the body is covered with a very dense, irregular relief decoration. The arrangement of thin, branching lines resembles frost crystals, fern fronds, feathers, or radially spreading plants. The pattern does not form closed ornamental fields but flows freely across both lids, reinforcing the impression of organic movement. The recesses of the decoration are darker, allowing the lighter areas of silver to form a distinct, almost graphic network. This type of texture not only adorned the object but also minimized the visibility of minor scratches that arise during everyday use.
On one of the lids, slightly above the center, an applied heraldic emblem is placed. Its lower part consists of a small shield covered with intensely cobalt-blue, semi-transparent enamel. On the blue field is the silver emblem of the Leliwa coat of arms: a crescent moon with its horns pointing upward, between which a star is placed. Above the shield rises an elaborate crest featuring elements of a helmet, a crown, and a repeated emblem. The appliqué was crafted separately and then attached to the body with pins. The cool blue of the enamel contrasts with the bright silver and the dark patina of the recesses. The red cabochon on the clasp provides a second, subtle splash of color.
The body is made of silver sheet metal, presumably formed by stamping and rounding on a die. The ornamentation was created using engraving, chasing, and texturing techniques, in some places with tools that produce dense, branching lines. The heraldic element is rendered in relief, partially openwork, and complemented with enamel. The individual parts were joined by soldering, hinging, and mechanical fastening. The red cabochon is most likely colored glass or a synthetic stone; a definitive identification of the material requires gemological analysis.
The decoration combines historicizing heraldry with the turn-of-the-century fascination with naturalistic textures imitating frost, leaves, and organic structures. The regular, functional form of the body contrasts with the restless surface and the colorful emblem. This effect lends the cigarette case the character of a ceremonial object, designed not only to hold cigarettes but also to convey the owner’s social status and family lineage.
Leliwa is one of the oldest and most recognizable Polish noble coats of arms. Its primary emblem consists of a golden crescent moon with a star placed between its horns, traditionally depicted on a blue field. The coat of arms remained in use by many families of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. However, the mere presence of the emblem on a cigarette case does not allow us to identify a specific owner or family, as many heraldic branches not directly related to one another used an identical or very similar symbol.
Cigarette cases of this type were personal accessories used among the landed gentry, military, civil servants, and the bourgeoisie. Silver pieces bearing a coat of arms were made to individual order and presented as anniversary gifts or mementos commemorating an important event. The heraldic application transformed a utilitarian box into an object serving as a symbol of identity: the family crest was constantly present during the act of offering a cigarette, and thus in social and representative situations.
A test report from 1978 serves as a valuable accompanying document, confirming the weight and fineness of the metal at the time the analysis was conducted. However, it is not a certificate of authorship or dating and does not determine the origin of the cigarette case.