Cigar cannon; Alfred Giroux, Paris, c. 1875

Cigar barrel; Alfred Giroux, Paris, c. 1875
Thuja root, gilded and ebonized wood.
Musical mechanism
With labels on the back
Measurements: 23 x 22 x 22 x 22 cm.

Cigar barrel in gilded wood with capacity for seven pieces; includes a rear key system that allows cigars to be progressively projected. The small ebonized barrel serves as a deposit to contain matches or matches and, at the same time, it turns to activate or stop a music box. The set is completed by a scraper on the circular base in thuja root.

Throughout history, tobacco has played a significant role in various cultures, not only as a consumer product, but also as a ritual, economic and social symbol. Its introduction into Europe after contact with America marked the beginning of a practice that soon spread globally, influencing everything from aristocratic customs to popular rituals. In this context, objects used for smoking, such as pipes, acquired a relevance that transcended their practical functionality.