Bronze – Brass Smoking Stand with Ashtray and Match Holder, Historicism (5796)

Brass Smoking Stand with Ashtray and Match Holder — Historicism

This elegant standing brass smoking stand (smokers stand) is an exquisite piece from the Historicism era, once part of the atmosphere of a gentleman’s study or smoking room (fumoir). A round, hand-hammered brass surface rests on a slender, fluted stem, featuring all the necessary accoutrements in one place, so the smoker has everything within reach without leaving their chair.

Dimensions: height […] cm · diameter […] cm.

Period of Manufacture Early 20th century (circa 1900–1930), Western Europe. The form and decoration reference the aesthetics of Historicism and Neo-Renaissance, while its function—storing cigarettes and matches—firmly dates it to the early 20th century.

Construction and Decoration The round top surface is surrounded by a wavy, hand-hammered rim, and the surface itself is adorned with a dotted, “hammered” texture and openwork cutouts. It holds an ashtray with a cigarette rest, a lidded round pot (for matches or tobacco), a holder for a match striker, and a decorative, lyre-shaped handle for carrying the stand. The slender stem transitions at the bottom into a richly ornamented base resembling wood carving, with a shell-shaped rosette and an openwork Renaissance arabesque frieze, supported by three distinctive screw-in feet.

Material Brass (hand-hammered top and stem) with a cast brass/bronze base and feet; dark patina on decorative parts.

Condition Good condition consistent with age. The brass retains a warm luster with a natural patina formed over time, especially on the hand-hammered top and base. Minor signs of wear indicate its authentic age.

Application A decorative and functional smoking stand that also serves equally well as a stylish side table, plant stand, or decorative accent in an interior with a historical character.

A Belle Époque Snapshot: Actress Réjane had returned to her dressing room after the first act and sank into an armchair, still breathless from the role’s intensity. She reached for a cigarette, and the brass stand chimed softly as the ashtray touched its lid. The murmur of the audience and the tuning of the orchestra drifted in through the open door, but here, in this small pool of light, all was calm—just a wisp of smoke rising past the hammered brass and dissipating into the ceiling. She closed her eyes for a moment, heard her line in her head again, and knew the next act would be even better. The bell called her to the stage; she stubbed out her cigarette and rose, leaving the stand to gleam quietly in the dimness.