Revolutionary War era Copper/Brass Tobacco Box, circa 1780, as in museum (ON HOLD)

This is another nice piece being offered, it is a Revolutionary War era tobacco box, circa 1780. It is made of copper/brass and measures 7” wide by 4” deep and 7” high to the top of the finial. It has a hinged lid and two circular handles on the sides. Four ball feet are formed into the base of the container. There are similar examples of this tin in “Early American Antique Country Furnishings”, by George Neumann (see pictures), and "The Revolutionary War Museum" in Yorktown, Virginia (see pictures).

Tobacco cultivation and exports formed an essential component of the American colonial economy. During the Civil War, they were distinct from other cash crops in terms of agricultural demands, trade, slave labor, and plantation culture. Many influential American revolutionaries, including Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, owned tobacco plantations, and were financially devastated by debt to British tobacco merchants shortly before the American Revolution.

This tin is in very nice condition with a tight hinge and snug fitting lid. It also has a beautiful untouched original patina.