Cigar humidor
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1941
Materials
Mahogany, satinwood, ivorine
Measurements
165 x 71 x 36.5 cm
Place of origin
Cuba
Collection
Chartwell, Kent
NT 1101692
Summary
A mahogany, satinwood and ivorine humidor, adapted to a cabinet for storing paints, Cuban,circa 1941, the front with raised shaped crest with satinwood inlay and a circular depression to the centre of the crest, the satinwood and depression outlined in ivorine and blue stringing, marked to the rear of the crest 'LA NACIONAL S. A./ Fábrîca de Envases en General/ Unîversîdad Núm. 324 (Carro)/ Teléfono M - 2514/ Habana - Cuba/ MARZO de 1941/ Habana - Cuba', the rectangular top of the cupboard inlaid with a satinwood panel with inlaid edges and patterns of ivorine stringing, the front with a pair of cupboard doors each decorated to the exterior ensuite to the cupboard top, the inside of the cupboard doors each inlaid with a rectangular frame of chequered bands, the interior of the cupboard with five shelves, across the top of the interior of the cupboard is a panel inscribed 'To the Rt. Hon. Winston Chruchill P.C.M.P./ WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF/ La Comisión Nacional de Propaganda/ y Defensa del Tabaco Habano/ Habana - Cuba', each exterior side of the cupboard decorative inlaid to match the doors and top, on a shaped and gadroon carved base, on four shaped and carved square-form feet.
Provenance
Chartwell was purchased by Winston Churchill in 1922 and for the next 40 years it was the family home. Presented to the National Trust in 1946, Winston and Clementine Churchill continued to live there until 1965 when it was relinquished to the management of the National Trust. Much of the contents of Chartwell were accepted by the Treasury in payment of death duty and retained in the house. Lady Churchill also gifted many pieces and others are on loan from the Churchill family. This cabinet was presented to Sir Winston Churchill by the Cuban National Commission of Propaganda in March 1941.