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Cigar Humidor
Cigar Humidor

Cigar Humidor

Artifact IDMO 63.5189a-e
Object Type Humidor
Date before 1963
Maker (Metalsmiths)
Gifter
Place MadeTaxco, Mexico, North America
Medium Silver, brass, copper, nickel, azurite with malachite, jadeite, turquoise, cedar, brass
DimensionsOverall H 4 3/8 in x W 14 1/2 in x D 7 1/2 in (11.1 cm x 36.8 cm x 19.1 cm)
Physical DescriptionSilver humidor with a hinged lid depicting the Aztec tobacco god holding his pipe, done in the "married metals" technique. The god's skin is in copper, his ankle and wrist ornaments in brass, and hair and pipe smoke in nickel. There is a silver plaque on the front of the humidor, inscribed "Al Senor John F. Kennedy Presidente de los Estados Unidos de America del Secretario de Agricultura de Mexico." The exterior sides are tiled in rectangular pieces of azurite with malachite, jadeite and turquoise. The interior is lined with cedar, and has three shelves and a lid. The lid has a brass tobacco leaf inscribed "Elaboracion especial de cigarros puros Mexicanos para al Senor John F. Kennedy".
Removable wood dividers in interior.
Historical NoteThe "married metals" technique is a Pre-Hispanic process which Los Castillo revived that entails making objects form a combination of separate pieces of silver, copper, brass and nickel alloy which are soldered together.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteItem was a gift from a member of the general public to the President and Mrs. Kennedy received by the Executive Office of the President betwen 1961-1963 and held by the General Service Administration until it was donated to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum by the Estate of President John F. Kennedy in 1965.
Credit LineJohn F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA; Gift of the Estate of President John F. Kennedy
National Archives Catalog CollectionJohn F. Kennedy Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 1676934)
National Archives Catalog SeriesKennedy Administration Collection 1960-1963 (National Archives Identifier 1676959)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedUse Restriction NoteReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view