Antique of the Week: Cartier Smoking Compendium

I love tabletop accessories. Especially ones that are useful. An example would be this Cartier Smoking Compendium. If I had this, I might take up smoking! Only organic, pure tobacco cigarettes obviously. Just kidding, I’m not taking up smoking cigarettes.

This is a “compendium” because it’s not only a cigarette dispenser, but also a cigarette lighter! But get this, it dispenses your cigarette, already lit! I want to see that in action. For those of you marijuana smokers, it would probably works for joints too.

What makes this piece even cooler, is that it has Boston ties! It was produced for Cartier by Shreve, Crump and Low. Maybe you’re not aware, but Shreve, Crump and Low was founded in Boston in 1796! It’s currently on Newbury between Arlington and Berkeley.

This compendium was designed by Clark Warner Parker in 1928 and was released around 1930. I did a little research on this guy, but only found other patents. Including one for a transmission. It was released for sale through Cartier and Dunhill.

Now for the not so good news. This thing is $36,500.00. It’s offered by Foundwell. If you happen to scoop this, please let me know. I would love to see it in action