Vienna circa 1920 by Hillebrand and Co (active circa 1918-21)
An early 20th century 900 standard and enamel cigarette case

Of rectangular form, to a hinged lid. The top edged with black and white enamel, centring a sunburst design of alternating black and light blue guilloche enamel. The underside with similar design, the sides with light blue guilloche enamel. The interior with inscription ' A gift from Joseph Stalin, Potsdam July 1945'. Fully marked.

The Potsdam conference (17 July - 2 August 1945 ) had as main objective to finalise postwar agreements and put into action all the things agreed at Yalta, a few months prior. The conference was marked by tension due to the recent death of US President Franklin D.Roosevelt and his replacement by Harry Truman, the emergence of nuclear weapons after the atomic bomb test on 16 July 1945, and growing Cold War fears over Soviet expansion and communism in Eastern Europe.