Vintage Dutch Night Watch Cigar Box Repousse Metal Rembrandt Wood Holland Mat
£25.00
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Vintage Dutch Night Watch Cigar Box Repousse Metal Rembrandt Wood Holland Mat
£25.00
Item Overview
- Type: Vintage Repoussé Metal Cigar Box / Rembrandt Night Watch Wood Tobaccoriana Case
- Designer: Dutch Metalware Artisan Guild (After Rembrandt van Rijn)
- Brand: Authentic Netherlands Export Marque
- Manufacturer: Dutch Art Casting Foundry
- MPN: Does Not Apply
- Place of Origin: Kingdom of the Netherlands (Holland)
- Style: Traditional Dutch Baroque / Retro Tobaccoriana / Country House Den Decor
- Colour: Burnished Silver-Tone Lid Panel, Natural Warm Teak-Brown Timber Grain, and Light Ochre Wood Interior
- Design Era: Mid-Century Vintage Period (c. 1950s–1960s)
- Material: Embossed / Pressed Steel Upper Sheet, Hardwood Veneer Frame Matrix, and Unfinished Cedar-Style Protective Inner Lining
- Set Includes: One (1) Single Integrated Two-Piece Hinged Tabletop Tobacco Presentation Box
- Features: High-Relief Repoussé Masterwork Lid, Pivot Rivet Corner Hinges, Fully Intact "MADE IN HOLLAND" Provenance Sticker, and Moisture-Absorbing Interior Panels
- Condition: Good Vintage Condition with Honest Storage Wear (The wooden casing is structurally solid and square; the silver-tone lid retains brilliant definition, displaying light storage pitting spots and minor paper adhesive residue as itemised below)
- Size and Capacity: Measures approximately 8.25 inches in total length by 5.25 inches in width and 1.35 inches in total depth (approx. 21.0 cm x 13.3 cm x 3.4 cm).
Dating & Historical Context
- Dating: This fine piece of tobacco utility ware dates to the mid-century vintage period (c. 1950s–1960s). The production diagnostics—including the typography configuration of the foil backing label, the specific stamping style of the corner pivot rivets, and the composition of the layered plywood base frame—are definitive signatures perfectly matching European novelty desk accessories exported to Great Britain during the post-war high-street giftware boom.
- Historical Note: Long before modern health legislation transformed the tobacco industry, beautifully crafted tabletop cigar and cigarette boxes were absolute mainstays of formal British drawing rooms, executive offices, and gentlemen's libraries. Dutch foundries established a dominant market position by pairing robust timber frames with highly detailed, pressed metal lids executed in the traditional repoussé style. These panels almost exclusively paid tribute to golden-age Dutch masters, with Rembrandt’s iconic 1642 civic guard masterpiece, The Night Watch, being the absolute peak of desirable themes. The boxes were deliberately lined with un-varnished softwoods like cedar to serve a vital functional purpose: naturally regulating humidity to keep imported cigars from drying out on drafty mantelpieces.
Description
A highly visual and richly textured acquisition for collectors of vintage tobaccoriana, Dutch decorative arts, or mid-century study stagers, this hinged timber box is full of historic character. The lid houses a striking, full-bleed pressed metal panel that captures the intense energy of Rembrandt's civic militia, showcasing detailed layers of pikes, historical standard banners, uniforms, musketeers, and barking hounds. The silvered upper highlights have been beautifully hand-buffed to gleam in the light, casting deep shadows into the darkened recesses to emphasize the dramatic chiaroscuro contrast of the original painting.
Expert Identification & Box Features:
- The Night Watch Relief: The metal stamping offers an exceptionally detailed, three-dimensional tactile surface that honors the complexity of the original Baroque masterpiece.
- Functional Wood Interior: Lined with clean, aromatic raw timber sheets that remain completely free from heavy artificial varnish smells, oils, or modern chemical overlays.
- Smooth Pivot Assembly: The sheet metal overlaps the timber sides seamlessly, using dual-flush corner rivet pins to allow the lid to swivel open smoothly without catching the frame.
- Desktop Stability: Engineered with a wide, low-profile layout that rests completely flat across sideboards or library shelves.
Condition Report
This vintage Dutch box is in good condition, showing a handsome abundance of authentic age-related character and displaying brilliantly. The main timber frame matrix is structurally solid, perfectly square, and rigid, with all corner seam joins holding firm without corner splits or loose veneer flaking. The internal wood chamber is remarkably clean, showing zero historic water staining, tobacco mold, or deep ink cracks. The metal repoussé panel is firmly anchored to the lid core, displaying clear figural definition; the surface houses minor storage age-toning, light cosmetic pitting spots, and a small patch of vintage paper tape residue along the bottom right edge. Please examine the detailed macro photos to confirm the factory label integrity and verify the physical scale.
Shipping & Logistics
- Domestic Shipping: FREE UK TRACKED DELIVERY.
- Packaging: This metal-clad item will be insulated in high-density bubble cushioning to protect the relief edges from flattening, with special corner guards applied to safeguard the timber box panels, and shipped inside a rigid outer box container.
- Dispatch: Order before 12.00pm and we ship same day.
Returns & Payment Policies
We want you to be delighted with your heritage find.
- Not as Described: In the unlikely event of an error in our listing, we will provide a full refund and cover the return postage costs.
- Change of Mind: We accept returns within 30 days; however, in these instances, the buyer is responsible for the return shipping costs.