239 - Ligne 1 Lighter, S.T. DUPONT, France. ca. 1970.

Ligne 1 Lighter, S.T. DUPONT, France. ca. 1970. Gold-plated metal with guilloché decoration featuring horizontal lines. Initials “F.C.” engraved on the front. Signed “S.T. Dupont Paris. Made in France” and numbered “17JJJ00” on the base. It comes with its original case. It shows patina and slight signs of use. Measurements: 6 × 3.5 × 1 cm; 3 × 11 × 13 cm (case). 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 understated rectangular shape and linear guilloché pattern characterize this S.T. Dupont lighter, part of the iconic Ligne 1 collection. The horizontal grooving runs continuously along the case and visually extends onto the side roller, while the gold finish and the initials “F.C.” engraved on one end reinforce its character as a personal luxury item. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Ligne 1 became one of the French house’s signature designs. S.T. Dupont began producing luxury lighters in 1941 and later developed its gas-powered models, establishing the lighter as one of the brand’s defining hallmarks. S.T. Dupont was founded in Paris in 1872 by Simon Tissot Dupont, initially specializing in luxury travel goods and leather goods. Throughout the 20th century, it expanded its production to include lighters and writing instruments, combining techniques of goldsmithing, lacquering, and guilloché that ultimately defined the brand’s identity.