Hammered Silver Container

A wonderful oval silver container with hammered decorative finish that was originally made to carry tobacco. Has an ingenious but simple opening mechanism. Squeeze the ends and the lid will pop up. APH makers' mark for Benson & Hedges (Alfred Paget Hedges) and hallmarked London 1899. Also has retail marks for Benson and Hedges.

Dimensions: 12 cm/4¾ inches x 7.75 cm/3 inches

Cigar merchants and tobacconists Benson and Hedges was founded in 1873 by Richard Benson and William Hedges, and by the late 1890's was in the hands of Alfred Paget Hedges alone. They became a limited liability company in 1910, and became public upon the death of Alfred Paget Hedges in 1929.