Pencil holder "Verhaegen Pianos & Phonos Rouen"

A rare testament to early 20th-century commercial advertising, this pencil holder was a gift from Verhaegen, a piano and phonograph dealer located on Rue des Carmes in Rouen. Made of nickel-plated metal and printed paper under celluloid, it protected a small removable pencil in a compact size, easy to slip into a pocket. The mention "Pianos - Phonos" refers to the golden age of domestic music, when dealers sold both mechanical pianos and the first sound reproduction devices.

✦ Provenance: Verhaegen, Rouen (France)
✦ Estimated period: Early 20th century
✦ Dimensions: approx. 8.5 cm
✦ Material: Nickel-plated metal, printed paper and celluloid
✦ Condition: Signs of wear, visible oxidation at the ends, advertising covering with some stains, complete set (Flat pencil missing but can be added)

A beautiful pocket advertising object related to the world of mechanical music and specialized Belle Époque shops, sought after by collectors of phonographs and old advertising.