Q: Can you tell us anything about this cabinet? . . .
From 1870 to about 1930, most American neighborhoods had an atmospheric tobacconist's . . .
Tobacco companies such as Lorillard soon realized that the shops were fertile ground for advertising and so supplied tobacco display cabinets, the better to highlight their wares. That's what our reader has.
Inlaid letters spelling the brand name "Tin Tag Tobacco," indicate that this cabinet dates from 1880 to about 1920 (I'd place it in the early days), when companies used decorated flat pieces of tin to wrap plug and twist tobacco. Lorillard is credited with inventing the tags, which soon became hot product advertising and are avidly collected to this day.
Even with the painting episode (which unfortunately covered decorative gold accents on the glass) and restoration, this is a prize piece of Americana. With smoking out of fashion, tobacco memorabilia — certainly the best — is collected. In an appropriate auction, the cabinet could bring $2,000 or more.
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