Pierre Legrain, the origin of the cigar case

Pierre Legrain is a name worth knowing for anyone who smokes cigars. If he is unfamiliar to you, here is why his name comes up so often in the world of smokers' accessories. A closer look.

From decorator to creator of the cigar case

Pierre Legrain, whose full name was Pierre-Emile Legrain, was born on 2 October 1889 in Levallois-Perret. Keen on art, he took drawing classes at the École Germain Pilon alongside Robert Delaunay and Robert Bonfils. He became an illustrator for the weekly Le Témoin, then met Paule Iribe, which led to a collaboration with La Baïonnette from 1915. At the end of the war, Pierre Legrain produced a number of bookbindings and contributed to the fitting out of the apartment of the well-known couturier Jacques Doucet.

His artistic streak was much appreciated by the couturier, who appointed him principal decorator for his various properties. One thing led to another, and Pierre Legrain was introduced to a number of public figures for whom he decorated substantial villas. From 1922 he set up his own workshop near the Louvre. He fitted out several villas in his own name, including those of Robert de Rothschild, Princess Grace of Greece and Viscount Charles de Noailles.

From interior decoration to designing cigarette cases

Pierre Legrain liked working with a variety of materials besides wood, and leather was among his favourites. In 1929, having formed the "groupe des cinq" with Pierre Chareau, Raymond Templier, Jean Puiforcat and Dominique, Pierre Legrain founded the Union des Artistes Modernes and designed its logo.

Pierre Legrain took a keen interest in accessories, as his work shows. He is credited with inventing the cigarette case and the cigar case. His very first model was made in leathers of different colours, ranging from brown to red, with geometric shapes that were unusual for the time. Several different models came out of his workshop, such as the case with a chromed cover and the one in snakeskin. Pierre Legrain is therefore presented as the inventor of the cigarette case and the cigar case.