228 - Set of two Ligne 1 lighters. S.T. DUPONT, France, ca. 1970.

Set of two Ligne 1 lighters. S.T. DUPONT, France, ca. 1970. Silver-plated and gold-plated metal, with guilloché decoration. Signed “S.T. Dupont Paris. Made in France” and numbered on the base. They show patina and scuffs on the finish consistent with their use. Measurements: 6 × 3.5 × 1.5 cm each. Provenance: Estate of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Artistic and heritage collection originating in the legacy of Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a seminal figure of 19th-century Catalan Realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935). Passed down and enriched across successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original holdings of both artists alongside acquisitions made by their descendants. Dedicated to preserving and recovering the family legacy, the descendants actively reacquired works by the painters as they entered the market, progressively expanding the collection to encompass paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other items of artistic and historical significance. The contrast between the silver-plated and gold-plated finishes allows one to appreciate two variations of the classic Ligne 1 by S.T. Dupont. Both pieces share the characteristic rectangular shape, the fluted side roller, and a very understated geometric decoration, although they differ in their surface treatment: one features fine horizontal fluting, while the other combines a central field of rhomboidal guilloché with smooth and fluted bands. The Ligne 1 was one of S.T. Dupont’s most recognizable designs during the second half of the 20th century. Mechanical precision and meticulous surface finishing transformed these lighters into small luxury items, representative of the French firm’s production during the 1960s and 1970s. S.T. Dupont, founded in Paris in 1872 by Simon Tissot Dupont, began its operations in the field of travel goods and luxury leather goods. During the 20th century, the company cemented its international prestige with its lighters, characterized by a combination of precision mechanisms, metal finishes, and guilloché and lacquer work.