Fine antique 19th century Napoleon III or Victorian era cigar caddy or presenter, a mechanical carousel style casket (not a humidor) in ebonized wood with hand painted Chinoiserie figural decoration, six rotating doors that hold three cigars or cigarillos each and a pressed brass or gilt ormolu bands top & bottom! Normally we find these (when we're lucky enough to) with problems rotating the doors but this one works just about as good as could be hoped for though sometimes the doors need just a slight nudge to fully open or close. Chinoiserie style and these were Europe's answer to the Oriental lacquer pieces. On display around the world, including the room dedicated to Victorian papier mache goods displayed in the Musee des Arts Decoratif in a wing of the Louvre (Paris). This one not quite so grand as those with hand painted gold architectural structures or pagodas & figures but elegant in its own right and these cigar presenters really do make lovely decorative pieces. One of just a few that we'll be listing in the next weeks so be sure to browse a bit while you're with us. Thanks!
Very good condition, age & materials considered. Some wear to the gold painted scenes and the top of the knob or finial is chipped. There are two sections of the floral pressed brass band missing from the top/lid portion. The doors, as noted, do rotate relatively well for its age but do, sometimes, need just a bit of help. See images for all measurements.
