Featured Absolutely stunning find, 18k French cigar cutter

Quite possibly one of my best finds. I found this at an antique store for $20. I had never found anything at this store before but as I was peering through one of the cases amongst all of the silver and gold filled jewelry I saw this extreme yellow color. It stood out completely so I had to look at it. As I looked it over I saw some strange foreign marks and it was quite heavy. For $20 I was obviously going to buy it. Turns out the entire piece is 18k with French horse head markings. Used from 1838-1919. I assume my piece is from the early 1900s. The chain and hook weigh 13 grams. The cutter weighs a lot more but due to having the cutting mechanism, so I guess there is a few more grams of gold there. The initials on the cutter match the name on the loop. Very very good condition as well! He obviously cherished this piece quite a bit. Extremely proud of this piece! Unfortunately the makers mark on the cutter is to me unreadable. However maybe the name on the steel piece is the maker? P Clox?

 

Eloi Pernet.

E.g.: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/eloi-pernet-cigar-cutter-18k-gold-pendant

 

Thanks so much! I am somewhat confused because that listing says 1977 whereas I read that horse head markings were 1838-1919?

 

The firm was not Eloi Pernet until 1920. Translation of the relevant parts from this site:

Charles Louis Eloi Pernet belongs to the third generation of cutlers Bieslois. He began his apprenticeship in 1901 at the age of 12. In 1920 he created his own company: ELOI, recalling the patron saint of goldsmiths and blacksmiths.
In 1925, Charles Louis Eloi Pernet obtains the prize of the Best Craftsman of France, as well as the Palmes Académiques.
Charles Louis Eloi Pernet then establishes relationships with renowned houses such as Hermes, Dupont, Vuitton and Dunhill. In 1937, he obtained national and international awards for his creations: Grand Prix des Expositions Universelles, then in 1959: Gold Medal for the Qualité France label. He died in 1963, leaving behind a unique image of quality and luxury.

It seems they now make podiatry supplies.

 

He didn't start the company until 1920 https://www.access-wines.com/cigar_cutter/EloiCigarCutterNaturalMotherOfPearl.php and products were still being made in the 1980's. https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/eloi-pernet-coin-knife.424058/ He also started as a third generation knife smith in 1901.

 

18K? You hit the jackpot.

Good eye!

 

how does an antique store miss this............?
really.....i'd fire the guy who put the price on this & make sure he never worked as anything but a burger flipper.........

Good eye Spart !!!!!

 

Not quite sure how I managed to get my reply above into quote mode. Sorry.

 

Fantastic find!
Your mark isn't the French horse head, yours has a neck and what seems to be horns, and is in a kind of clover shaped frame. I couldn't find it when looking in my gold hallmarks Tardy book , but undoubtly 18k gold whatever this mark is

 

The head hallmark is after 1920-30 when it's not an import mark but a french one, in the Louis Carré book from 1929, this hallmark is not illustrated, and the second one which I can't really read is not on the book too, this can help you for dating.
I have no book about french gold marks after that as the french system is the more difficult when you want to have a precise date.

 

It is a beauty.
Just wondering, did Eloi manufacture in Morocco (former French rule) as well?
Moroccan guarantee mark for small gold objects, from october 1925 onward:

 

The mark on the right could be the French mark for mixed metals, in this case gold and silver. The mark on the left is a classic French maker's mark, also used in French ruled countries:


Mixed metals, silver and gold, from 1905 onward:


It is not unusual to see both French and Moroccan marks on pre-independence Moroccan made items.

 

Yes, you're right in my opinion, I've never think to the french colony as a possible origin.
And the mixed metal is a possibility, the hallmark is really not as good to be certain but 90% at least.

 

very surprised an antique store would miss that (would be less surprising at the thrift store or garage sales where they don't specialize and wouldn't know), but that's awesome and what a score for you!!!

 

!!!

 

Hi,
We have an excellent well known jewelry expert who had sale. She had all of this Chinese jewelry on sale for 25 cents each or 5 for a buck. The jewelry was all from the 1950s/60s and just marked China. I bought 20 some pieces and took it to the pawn shop. It was all solid silver and real stones. For my 4 bucks I got 230 dollars for the silver and the stones. I can not wait for her next sale.
greg

 

It is not something we Europeans usually think of, but I regularly look up North African marks, and remembered seeing something like spartcom's mark. Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia had (have) some very elegant cities, with 'refined' clientele.

 

(sigh) I'd have bought and hoarded the lot. Some of that old Chinese enamel and sterling sells for $$$$. I can't argue with the results though!