Once, the world’s values were different. Little things were considered even more important than big things. S.T. Dupont of Paris made just such things “nécessaires de voyage” – fitted travel cases for the very, very rich. Hand-tooled in the costliest leathers, they opened to reveal gold pillboxes, crystal scent bottles, ivory combs and brushes – all that was then deemed necessary to overcome the rigors of travel.
They were owned by kings and premiers. So, of course, the Maharajah of Patiala, who had more wives and more automobiles than any king and premier of American, wanted one, too. But Maharajah wanted his to be bigger and costlier and more complete than any S.T Dupont had ever made. He even insisted that it contain of all things, a cigarette lighter.
The craftsmen of S.T Dupont new there was no lighter fine enough to belong in an S.T. Dupont “nécessaire”. So they set to work and fashioned their own, fit to take its place beside the ivory brushes and crystal flasks and gold pillboxes. It was not long before S.T. Dupont cigarette lighters had become one of the secrets of the few, discussed no more than the name of one’s tailor or bootmaker.
Maharajah – the word evokes the East, 1001 Nights and Dreams of a never-ending journey.
In 1872. S.T. Dupont began designing exceptional pieces for the elite of this far-off world: luggages, leather goods and accessories.
In the 1930’s, a Maharajah commissioned a gold lighter as part of his travel accessories.
Now, S.T Dupont has drawn on its history to create a limited edition that reflects these Eastern splendours.
Fine materials worthy of kings: gold, mother-of-pearl, black and coromandel Chinese lacquer create magnificent effects and harmonious tones…
Launch 1996
This limited collection consists of:
Pocket lighters 2,000
Jeroboam table lighters 500