Fabulous box, this one! A late 1800s to perhaps 1915 hand carved cigar chest or caddy, server, from the famed Swiss carvers of the Black Forest region. Superbly crafted and preserved, but it has somehow lost its inner cigar trays over time. The slider bars are there on the inside, so we know it was fitted with trays initially. They do sometimes break, but my suspicion is it was re-purposed and the trays simply lost or forgotten. The birds on top are really perfect - lifelike anatomy, little if any damage. Even beaks remain. I've shown them from all angles so you can see how delicate and charming they are. Measurements are noted on photos bu tit is 9.5" longest, 6.5" widest, and 8.5" to top of the carved birds.
Very good to excellent condition with exception of the missing trays. We've sometimes replaced a tray or two in the older ones with thin oak cut to fit (you can buy it at crafts stores), and then optionally, the opening slots for cigars to rest upon cut away. I keep looking at this one and thinking what a wonderful jewelry display it would be just with the flat oak panels and no cigar openings. Of course, one can still store cigars inside. The lid lifts up and hinges back, as shown in our photos. I find that only the tall fronds of leaves behind the birds seem to have lost their tips. Wings and beaks are in lovely shape, as well as tails. Oh, and there is an age hairline on the top, running in from the right edge. I've shown it well in one of the photos for your review. It's from the wood aging and shrinkage that sometimes will crack, not from being dropped. Legs are all carved and fully intact. A little beauty! Kind of want to find 2 small decanters and a couple cordials and turn this one into a desktop bar for cognac, liqueur. You'll have a perfect way to use it!
