A late 19th century American humidor in the form of a capstan

ATTRIBUTED TO TIFFANY & CO., CIRCA 1890

Details

A late 19th century American humidor in the form of a capstan
attributed to Tiffany & Co., circa 1890
[unsigned], in gilt brass and steel, built up on a padded circular base, and detailed with numerous nautical motifs including: a large [fouled] fluke anchor with stock, shackle and d-ring chain, axe, boat hooks, grappling hooks with gold boullion rope, sail furled on a small spar, double blocks with beckets reaved with gold boullion rope, mallet, spy glass, lantern, Neptune's Trident, oar, all surrounding the capstan drum which is wrapped with gold boullion rope, the top band detailed with pole holes, with a hinged domed lid decorated with an additional grappling hook, reaved block, hailing trumpet and Jack Tar's hat. The interior with a removeable false bottom [for a moisture sponge].
10¼" x 9 in. (26 x 22.9 cm.) height x diameter

Lot Essay

An identical piece was sold at Cottone Auctioneers on June 17, 2005 (Lot 61), that was signed on the bottom "Tiffany & Co., New York". This example is missing the original base plate, where the Tiffany stamp was located.

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