Fantastic & rare antique French Napoleon III era Empire Revival style 11 3/8" cigar box, tantalus or presenter in solid oak with brass accenting, a spectacular bronze Blackamoor style Middle Eastern figure & dog with his tent! Isn't this one magnificent! A rare early piece, this one in solid old growth European oak and the figures are both heavy, solid bronze (not the bronze patinated white metal you see in later pieces). Influenced by the Napoleonic French Empire, when the Oriental campaigns introduced foreign styles, figures and goods. The gent dressed rather opulently, smoking a pipe and seated on what appears to be a drum. One of our finest right now, don't miss it!
Very good condition, age considered. You can see there there are one or two missing brass strip accents and some tarnish here and there. A few age or drying splits or cracks but in overall great shape. The figures are both pristine, the seated figure's bolt on the base of the box is a replacement though. The interior of the box with the original cigar fittings. Original lock and there is a key but it doesn't seem to turn the mechanism. See pictures for all measurements.
