Value lights up with this old cigar chest
Q This chest has been in my family for about four generations. The story is it came over with my great grandfather from Ireland in 1842. It is 51 long by 36 cm wide, and about 15 cm (20 by 14 by 6 inches) off the ground and carved on all sides. Inside there are four heavy glass sections — each one 18 long by 11 cm wide and 5 cm deep (7 by 4.5 by 2 inches) — contained by a spring-loaded glass partition which lifts up. The brass lock strip is stamped “Patent Double Lever” and a crown, a check mark and an R. There is velvet under the glass sections. If you lift the entire section out, there is a long flat metal spring. The top was damaged in a fire. We have always wondered what the original purpose of this chest was and any light you can shed would be much appreciated. Allanah, Perth
A This rare cigar chest, dating to the mid-1800s is for a wealthy citizen’s personal stash. The spring helped to hermetically seal the four glass compartments along with the inner glass lid to keep the cigars fresh. Some boxes were lined with metal but later examples were lined with a species of mahogany that mimicked cedar. With your Irish provenance I think the carved dark outer case is bog oak. The lock stamps include a partial impression ‘V’ for Victoria Regina. The lid damage removed more carving on the uppermost panel which does devalue it. Even so, cigars are very much in vogue as are the accoutrements for them. This chest will light up a buyer with $650 to spend.
Q This claret jug stands 33 cm high (13 inches) and dates from either the 1860s when my greatgrandfather emigrated (in 1871) from Scotland to Canada or from the 1880s when he married in Toronto (in 1881), receiving this wedding gift from someone “back home” in Scotland. The silver-plating has all been removed by an overzealous maid long ago polishing it. The silver is of a rather gothic style. The glass is cut into etched diamonds with shamrocks, thistles, roses, and leeks. Can you enlighten me on its origins and can you advise me whether I should get the jug re-silvered — I rather like it the way it is. My
A. It’s terrific having solid family provenance to help with the background of this fine English jug. The general shape and style of this jug is post-1860s — making it definitely the wedding gift — popular in the 1880s and ’90s. The metal designs depict Bacchus, god of wine, while the masked spout and grape clusters on the handle allude to its use. To realize full value it should be re-silvered. But with wine and related items being of great interest today your unusually cut and etched vessel is quite desirable as it is and is worth $350.
Q I was given this coloured picture by an elderly friend. It measures 25 by 31 cm (10 by 12 inches). In pencil it says “St. Francois I.O. From woodcut 94. 120 Andre Bieler.” I would love to know something of this picture. Thanks for any help. Deborah, Stittsville, Ontario
A Swiss-born Andre Charles Bieler (1896-1989) came to Montreal in 1908. He was all about people and promoting what he loved — art. Paris, France trained, he taught at Queen’s University, Kingston and the Banff School of Fine Arts. He was a member of the Canadian Group of Painters (many of which were also Group of Seven members), the Canadian Society of Graphic Artists, the Ontario Society of Artists and more. His work depicts genre scenes of Quebec life. Your print is a woodblock coloured with a pochoir technique (silkscreening), No. 94 of an edition of 120 and produced at Ile d’Orleans in 1928. His work is very desirable and your beautiful print is worth $650.