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What is a Figural Tobacco Jar ? |
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Figural tobacco jars are containers that were created around the turn of the century to store the ever increasing supply of tobacco.
These jars when they are shaped of humans or animals are then considered 'figural'.
As you can tell from the pictures scattered throughout this web site, these jars were most often the simply head of a person or animal. Many times they were modeled as full figures representing historic people, or people dressed in their everyday costumes. Many tobacco jars were created with animals assuming human roles and dressed in fancy outfits. There was no limit to what the potters created.
Tobacco jars were primarily ceramic made in terra-cotta or majolica or sometimes in porcelain or bisque. There are some made of bronze and some carves out of wood.
Most tobacco jars are produced around the turn of the century. New types of containers and changing habits curtailed the demand for them.
Today, they are highly collectible. They can be found in prices ranging from a few dollars for the beginning collector up to a few thousand for the advanced. And, there are enough for the beginners to assemble a lovely collection.
