Purera; Maison Alfred Giroux, France, c. 1880

Purera; Maison Alfred Giroux, France, c. 1880
Rosewood, ebonized wood, lemonwood, bone and gilded bronze.
Measurements: 20 x 17,5 x 22 cm.

Cigar box in rosewood in the form of a doghouse, with the animal in gilt bronze, and dressed as a porter, leaning out of the window. Above the window is a sign that reads: "Parlez au portier", while vine shoots grow around the lintel of the door. When the doorbell, located on the curb between the two openings, is pressed, the roof and the door open, revealing an interior in lemon tree veneer capable of holding twenty-four cigars. In addition, the inside of the door with a tank for storing matches. A scraper at the base completes the set.

Maison Alfred Giroux, founded in the early 19th century, was a supplier to King Louis XVIII for gambling tables and accessories of great originality. This prestigious firm specialized in decorative and functional objects, recognizable by their style and the quality of their execution. The house closed in 1885.