Description

Adjustable Center Partition

From our Boxes collection, we are delighted to offer this Art Deco Walnut Humidor by Dunhill. The Humidor of rectangular shape veneered to the exterior in Walnut with framed stringing around each panel and a chamfered edge finishing the high quality of the box. The walnut veneer to the exterior book matched with a visible break running down the centre. The interior of the box is lined in Cedar with a humidifier located in the inner lid. To the rear of the interior there is a small square which would have originally contained the makers plaque for Dunhill. The Humidor dates to the first half of the 20th century during the Art Deco era circa 1935.

The Humidor comes complete with a working lock and tasselled key.

Dunhill Alfred Dunhill was Born September 30th 1872. From 1890 Dunhill ran a company that sold motoring accessories through mail order under the name Dunhill’s Motorities. In 1902 he opened a shop on Conduit Street, Mayfair which sold clothing and accessories to chauffeurs and their employers. In 1904 he developed the “windshield pipe”, which would allow motorists to smoke whilst driving, and went on to open a tobacconists in St. James in 1907. The shop offered tailored tobacco blends and its success meant that Dunhill could expand to shops in New York and Paris in the 1920’s. With his international ambitions Dunhill created a modern luxury goods market. In 1921 the company received its first royal warrant, as a tobacconist to Edward Prince of Wales. Dunhill also supplied Winston Churchill and Siegfried Sassoon. In 1924 Dunhill launched the “Unique Lighter” which was the world’s first lighter that could be operated with one hand. Dunhill passed the chairmanship of the company to his son Alfred Henry in 1928.

Walnut comes in many varieties from America to Europe. American Walnut is often a warm yellow-brown to purple-brown colour with a straight grain. European Walnut tends to vary greatly from tree to tree in terms of colour and pattern. From light grey-brown to dark brown with dark grain and irregular markings. Walnut trees often develop large burr growths which when veneered show beautiful rich coloured swirls.

Cedar has many variations. Cedar, also known as Lebanon Cedar, True Cedar can be found in Asia, Europe and North Africa. Cedar trees are long lived and often offer a poor quality, knotty wood. Logs used for veneer are carefully chosen to make sure they have a clean, straight grain. African Cedar, or Bosse, found in West Africa is a pink-brown colour when fresh, turning into a dark almost mahogany colour with age.Brazilian Cedar found in South America is a medium brown colour.
Western Red Cedar is found in North America. A more durable cedar with a colour ranging from pink-brown to dark red.

Art Deco was a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first appeared in France in the 1910s. It flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920s to early 1930s. It was hugely prevalent through styling and design of the exterior and interior of anything from large structures to small objects and even influenced fashion and jewellery. Art Deco has influenced bridges, buildings, ships, ocean liners, trains, cars, trucks, buses, furniture, and everyday objects like radios and vacuum cleaners. It has become extremely popular today and is highly desirable to collectors and trendsetters in the fashion industry.

With every purchase from Mark Goodger Antiques, you will receive our latest catalogue, a Certificate of Authenticity, detailed care instructions for your chosen piece and an independent invoice (for insurance purposes) will be enclosed. As well as being protected by a no-hassle, money-back policy, your piece will be entirely insured during the shipping process to ensure the safety of your item.

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