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    Title

  • Two cigar cutters

  • Physical Description

    2 cigar cutters : metal, leather ; 2 in x 1 in; 1.25 in x 5/8 in ; 5 cm x 3 cm; 4 cm x 2 cm

  • Date

    early 20th century

  • Summary

    2022.18a: Flat metal cigar cutter has a blade with a handle that inserts into a base. The base is yellow metal and is engraved with the initials PP (for Philipp Preuss). The cigar cutter has a small leather holding case.

    2022.18b: Small cigar cutter with a fixture to attach to a key chain. The handle is yellow metal that has a ridged texture.

  • Medium

    Furnishings and equipment; Objects

  • Part Of

    Preuss Family Collection, AR 25974

  • Accession Number

  • URL

Biographical/Historical Information

Philipp Preuss (owner of 2022.18a) was born in Preußisch Eylau, Germany in 1880. He came to Dusseldorf in 1909 and together with his brother Emil opened the interrior decorating and oriental rug company known as Teppichhaus E. Preuss. He served in the army during World War I, where he drove a truck. Philipp took over the management of the firm in 1921 when Emil died. Preuss was very active in the affairs of Dusseldorf as one of the leading business men of the time. He married Anna (née Marx) and had two children, Kurt and Gerda. Philipp Preuss was beaten and had several ribs broken during Kristallnacht. He was also forced to relinquish ownership of his business in 1938 as well. Both his children had left Germany for work and school by then, and Philipp and Aenny were permitted to leave Germany for England. Philipp was briefly interned as an enemy alien in England. Philipp and Aenny then came to America in 1941, arriving in Boston with very little luggage, as their belongings that been burned during an air raid in Antwerp while being transported to America. After immigrating to America and then moving to New York, Philipp became a packer for a jewelry store in New York. He returned to Germany briefly in 1958 and thereafter received a small sum of money in restiution .

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Citation

Two cigar cutters, Leo Baeck Institute, 2022.18a-b.