This is a good example of a piece suffering from years of use and many more years of neglect, saved by a knowledgeable collector who recognized what it was. Missing the original ashtray and the Tabourette lighter, it was filthy and seriously worn. The correct model of lighter was found in the wrong finish and supplied to me. After consultation, the decision was made to triple copper plate the lighter and finish it in 24K gold plate to be as close as possible to original. The base and dispenser were both worn through the original gold dore and were refinished as close to original as I could. The lighter was recovered in lizard print lambskin which is also very close to the original leather panels.
Serv-A-Cig as it arrived, tarnished and gold worn off
Base in disrepair with wear and corrosion
Elements disassembled for cleaning and rehab
Detail of the base wear
Amazing what collects in the unseen nooks and crannies
Cigarette box
Tabourette as it arrived. Finish didn’t match set, didn’t work
After replating and recovering with leather
Completely rehabbed Tabourette with new gold plating
Box Lid as it arrived
Detail of before and after finish with new gold plating
Once cleaned up the base still has gold on the underside
Detail of gold wear on the exposed vs, unexposed areas
Side view of finished piece
Replacement cedar in the cigarette box
Serv-A-Cig with Tabourette
Serv-A-Cig with Tabourette
Detail of finished Tabourette
Tabourette detail
New Felt on the Tabourette to save the finish
New felt on the base to save the coffee table!