A wonderfully evocative and highly decorative late Victorian / Edwardian Continental tobacco jar, cast in a beautifully patinated copper alloy (most likely bronze or gunmetal), with an unusual Orientalist finial and a remarkable continuous frieze of deeply modelled European pastoral scenes.

This is one of those objects that reveals more every time you study it. Rather than relying on repeated decoration, the body is wrapped in an almost storybook sequence of miniature scenes, each alive with movement, character and extraordinary attention to detail.

The removable lid is surmounted by a seated Oriental figure, dressed in traditional robes and broad conical hat, his long queue falling down his back as he calmly smokes a long pipe while seated upon what appears to be a tea chest or travelling chest. Oriental subjects became immensely fashionable throughout Europe during the late nineteenth century, reflecting the era’s fascination with Chinoiserie and the wider influence of East Asian decorative arts.

Beneath, the cylindrical body presents a continuous high-relief panorama of European rural life. One scene depicts an elegant garden fête, where fashionable ladies carrying parasols and fans gather with gentlemen raising glasses in celebration, accompanied by musicians in powdered wigs performing beneath mature trees. Elsewhere, beautifully observed hunting dogs lounge beside the revellers, while cherubs perch upon garden walls overlooking the festivities.

The narrative then moves into the countryside with richly detailed harvest scenes. A working watermill stands beside a stone bridge, overlooked by cottages and mature trees, while labourers carry scythes across their shoulders and celebrate the harvest. Sheep gather beside their shepherds, mothers stand with young children at their knees, and a heavily laden haywain carries its precious load home, complete with a mother carrying her baby atop the hay while a team of workers and horses continue the day’s work.

Perhaps most impressive are the tiny sculptural details that reward close inspection. The lean hounds are so finely modelled that the ribs beneath their coats remain visible, musicians clutch their instruments with remarkable precision, and even the foliage, vines and stonework possess real depth and texture. The quality of the casting is exceptional for an object of this modest size.

The lid itself is decorated with richly modelled vine leaves, tendrils and grape clusters—an entirely appropriate motif for an object associated with leisurely smoking and convivial gatherings.

The construction also speaks to its quality. The removable lid locates within the body by means of an internal seating ring, worn smooth through many decades of use, while the finial is secured with its original brass screw and nut. Examination of naturally worn areas reveals the warm copper colour of the underlying alloy beneath the rich chocolate-brown patina, entirely consistent with a quality Continental copper-alloy casting of the period.

Whether displayed in a library, study or cabinet of curiosities, this is a wonderfully atmospheric object that captures the romanticism of late nineteenth-century European decorative art.

Measurements

* Overall height (including finial): 14cm
* Height of pot (excluding lid): 10 cm
* Diameter: 11 cm
* Weight: 515 g

Condition

Very good antique condition with an attractive deep brown patina developed over many years. General age-related wear and handling marks consistent with its age and original purpose. The lid sits nicely. The internal seating ring shows honest wear from repeated opening and closing over its working life. No obvious structural damage noted.

An unusual and highly decorative example that would appeal to collectors of antique tobacco jars, bronze decorative arts, Orientalist design, Continental metalwork and late Victorian interiors.

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From TicketyBooFinds – interesting antiques chosen for their character and craftsmanship. If you enjoy unusual silver, antiques and well-made objects with history, do have a look at my other listings — I’m always adding interesting pieces.