Antique Uncle Sam Tobacco Humidor, Rare Ceramic Barrel Bust, c. 1880 - Collector Tobacciana

Antique tobacco humidor featuring the bust of Uncle Sam emerging from a barrel, manufactured approximately in 1880. A representative piece of American folk art and tobacco paraphernalia from the late 19th century.

Object History: Tobacco jars with anthropomorphic and satirical figures gained great popularity during the Victorian era. This piece, crafted in high-density polychrome stoneware, reflects North American patriotic iconography. Frequently, these objects were commissioned by American merchants from prestigious European ceramic centers for distribution as luxury items.

Technical details and dimensions:
- Period: Circa 1880 (19th Century)
- Technique: Molded stoneware with cold-painted polychromy
- Height: 18 cm (7.1 inches)
- Diameter: 15 cm (5.9 inches)
- Weight: 1.1 kg (2.4 lbs)
- Materials: Stoneware and Ceramic

Conservation status: The object retains its original structural and chromatic integrity. It shows a natural patina consistent with its age of over 140 years. An ancient hairline crack is observed on the inner base and a small chip on the inner rim of the lid, details documented in the attached photographs. These signs of wear are common in antique utilitarian ceramics.

Appraisal: An item of high relevance for specialized collectors of Americana, historical smoking objects, and late 19th-century ceramics.