An early 20^th century Iraqi silver and niello cigarette case, Nasiriyah circa 1930 signed Abed, Nasriya

Of rectangular form with rounded corners. The lid with a bouquet of flowers attended to by birds, cornered with foliage. The reverse with the crossed flags for the Kingdom of Iraq (1924-59) surmounted by the Hashemite crown, all reserved with bouquets of flowers attended to by birds cornered with foliage between bands of checkerboard pattern. Signed to the front, the upper section with an owner’s dedication Maryam bint Rafeeq (Maryam daughter of Rafeeq), later scratched out.

Length – 11.2 cm / 4.4 inches

Weight – 153 grams / 4.92 ozt