Vintage Cigar Storage Box
These vintage cigar storage box pieces are practical containers for tobacco, prized for timber grain and period metalwork.
Vintage Cigar Storage Box
A vintage cigar storage box spans various historical eras, encompassing humidors, desktop cabinets, and decorative caskets. Pieces on this page predominantly feature Victorian, Regency, and Art Deco designs from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Form follows function in these containers, ranging from multi-drawer wooden cases to French modernist silver-plated boxes. Oak, burr walnut, and burr elm are frequently encountered materials.
Buyers encounter specialised storage solutions, including tambour cabinets and brass-bound boxes. These items serve both as functional humidors and as decorative desktop accessories.
Materials and construction
Cabinetmakers utilised fine hardwoods like oak, satinwood, burr walnut, and burr elm to build these robust storage cases. Selected timbers showcase striking natural grain patterns across the exterior surfaces.
Metal components such as brass banding and silver plating reinforce the wooden structures and provide decorative contrast. Internal fittings often incorporate specialised humidifiers and multiple small drawers for organisation.
One unexpected item on offer is a Victorian railway coal wagon repurposed as a humidor.
Judging the standard
The distinction between standard pieces and finer examples rests upon the selection of timber veneers and the precision of the joinery. Burr walnut and burr elm surfaces exhibit superior figuring and depth.
Complexity of form elevates a piece, distinguishing simple lidded boxes from multi-drawer desktop cabinets with tambour doors or bespoke internal metal accessories. Original hardware and functional mechanisms complete the higher tier.
Alfred Dunhill·Crevillen
The Vintage Cigar Storage Box Glossary
- Humidor
- A specialised box or cabinet designed to maintain a constant humidity level for storing cigars. These interiors often incorporate natural woods and metal moistening devices.
- Tambour
- A type of flexible door construction made from narrow strips of wood attached to a canvas backing. This mechanism slides smoothly around a curve to enclose cabinet shelving.
- Burr walnut
- A highly prized wood veneer taken from the abnormal growth of a walnut tree. It produces intricate, swirling patterns across the surface of furniture and boxes.
- Satinwood
- A durable, yellowish timber from tropical trees used for fine cabinet making. It offers a smooth, glossy finish that contrasts well with darker woods.
Vintage Cigar Storage Box: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a vintage cigar storage box used for?
These pieces function primarily as humidors or desktop cabinets to keep tobacco at the correct moisture level. They also serve as decorative containers for small accessories.
Collectors often place them on desks or sideboards in studies and living spaces.
How do I date a wooden cigar box?
Dating relies upon stylistic markers such as Victorian brass binding or Art Deco geometric lines. Timber choices like burr elm and satinwood also point to specific periods.
Construction techniques and hardware details help narrow down the manufacturing decade.
Are all these boxes humidors?
Not every container functions strictly as a humidor, though many incorporate internal humidifying elements. Some items are designated simply as desktop cabinets or cigarette boxes.
Interior fittings usually reveal whether a piece was built specifically for active tobacco storage.
How do I care for wooden cigar boxes?
Keep wooden and silver-plated containers away from direct sunlight and sudden temperature shifts to protect the finish. Regular dusting preserves the polished appearance of the timber.
Avoid excessive moisture on unlined external wood surfaces during routine cleaning.