Baume & Mercier Collectible Jewelry

Mughal ladies Tom Pouce lighter designed by Cartier. Fabulous and extremely rare ladies cylindrical gasoline lighter. Created in Paris during the art deco period by the house of Cartier, back in the middle of the 1920's. This miniature Tom Pouce lighter, takes its name from the classic short fairy tales by the Grimm's brothers, Tom Thumb (Tom Pouce being the French translation). It was crafted with Champlevé colored enamels over rustic bronze and accented with details in yellow gold of 18 karats. Embellished with natural lapis lazuli and an emerald. The main outside body is decorated with organics elements and figures of red and blue birds. Gorgeous look and surely a great conversation piece which is accompanied by the round Cartier red box. Champlevé, in the decorative arts, is an enameling technique or an object made by the champlevé process, which consists of cutting away troughs or cells in a metal plate and filling the depressions with pulverized vitreous enamel. The raised metal lines between the cutout areas form the design outline. Emerald: Accented on top in a bezel setting, with 1 square faceted cut of a natural green emerald of about 0.15 carats. Lapis: Mount with 1 flat round cabochon cut, carved from lapis lazuli of about 1.25 carats. Birthstone: Emerald for the month of May. Weight: 21.95 Grams, (14.07 Dwt). Measurements: Have a diameter of 16 mm and a height of 33 mm (0.63 x 1.30 Inches). Hallmarks Stamped with the maker's mark, the serial numbers, the French taxation mark for luxury items BL inside a rectangular cartouche and signed, "CARTIER 5554", stamped with matching cases numbers, 13 & 13. Ministere Des Finances Lighter Tax 1911-1945 Note: On 10th December 1910 the French state adopted a new tax regulations on all devices indented to produce spark or fire by friction, or by any other means, and of the combustion of a flammable substance. Since 1st January 1911 every lighter in France that was intended for sale in the French market had to be taxed and adequately marked. To confirm that the excise duty was paid to the Ministry of Finance a special duty metal plate (stamp) was attached (usually welded) to the lighter by the lighter manufacturers. The fees charged by the French state were high but the tax rates levied by the state were varying depending on the type and finish of the lighter. Following tax rates were used: 2 French francs for common pocket lighters, 5 Fr for pocket lighters made of silver, 20 Fr for luxury pocket lighters (e.g. made of gold), 5 Fr for common table/desk lighters (over 10 cm), 10 Fr for table/desk lighters (over 10 cm) made of silver, 50 Fr for luxury table/desk lighters (over 10 cm) made of gold or platinum. Between 1911 and 1916 a simple copper plate was used which had the date 1911 engraved. Later, between 1916 and 1945 a new plate (undated) was introduced with the letters "C" and "I" (stands for indirect taxes) and a profile of Mercury (patron god of financial gain, commerce and messengers) with an inscription "Ministère Des Finances" (eng. Ministry of Finance). Two shapes were used for the plate – oval for table lighters, the other one for pocket lighters. Additional to the two duty plates a marking "BL" (Briquet de Luxe, eng. luxury lighter) was introduced in 1926. It was a small hallmark which was considered as more discreet and applied only on luxury lighters like Quercia or Lancel. It is worth to mention that France was not the sole country where lighters were taxed and marked with special plates...

Cartier 18 Karat Yellow Gold Powder - Lipstick 4.365 oz., Art Deco, Rare - Paris Rare and Precious Object from Cartier Paris, 1920-1925, .750-18KT yellow gold, carved antique Jade, 30 Ceylon sapphires, enamel. The Jadeite Jade plate comes from the apprêts. The term apprêts referred to a stock of fragments from disassembled jewelry and other objects, including ancient items...

Vintage Classic 18-karat gold faux-bamboo Italian, Vincenza made bracelet. Consists of nine gold etched and brushed finish bamboo segments which, when closed, form a solid heavy (33g...

For your consideration is the original Art Deco super stylish leather handbag, a great example of Modernist Deco design of the 30's period. Features a dark brown leather body with ta...

1969 Omega De Ville mechanical watch, with deep blue sea dial, 18K gold plated watch case, original strap and applied hour markers at the cardinal positions 3,6,9 & 12. The watch ...

A fine and impressive, collectable vintage English 9 karat yellow gold box; an addition to our boxes and cases collection. This impressive vintage English 9 karat yellow gold box has been realistically modelled in the form of a peanut shell or monkey nut. The body of this antique gold box...

Original mid-century 1950 Vacheron Constantin Square in solid 18K 0.750 gold watch with 18k gold wrist band. SIGNED "VACHERON CONSTANTIN SWISS" SIGNED: "VACHERON CONSTANTIN GENE...

Antique Amber Handle with Gold Band Wood Walking Stick Offered for sale is an unusual antique walking stick with a carved amber handle. The handle is ...

A Dutch Carnelian smoking pipe with gold decorated bands An octagonal cut Carnelian with Biedermeier engraved decorative bands in 14 karat gold smoking pipe ca 1870. Gold hallm...

Simple and elegant 18K white gold watch by Swiss luxury watch manufacturer, Corum. This watch has a round dial with an 18K white gold case and bracelet. Marked 18K on the back of ca...

Antique Ladies Parasol Frame, Gold Handle, Band, Bone Handle and Tips Offered for sale is a 19th-century ladies' parasol frame with a bone and gold handle and bone tipped frame. ...

1 Volume. Robert Frost, A Masque of Mercy. First Trade Edition. Bound in the publisher's blue cloth. Signed by the author. Housed in a 1/4 blue morocco and linen board slipcase with ...