Hand-Crafted Burnt Wood Humidor (Tobacco Box)

Object/Artifact

Bytown Museum / Musée Bytown

Name/Title

Entry/Object ID

2026.4.4.ab

Description

One hexagonal-shaped humidor made of wood and decorated with burnt wood designs and artistry. Lid (2026.4.4.a): One hexagon-shaped lid, with a circular handle on top in the centre. The surface of the lid is decorated with patterned lines, and green leaves and one white flower around the handle. The words "Tobacco" and "R.M.A" are etched on to the lid as well, one word above the handle, and the other below. The initial's stand for Robert Milton Armstrong, the maker's husband. Underneath the lid, is a smaller, raised hexagon with a floral pattern surounding it. The handle is secured on the underside of the lip with a single screw in the centre. Box (2026.4.4.b): One hexagon-shaped box, with different pictures and words etched onto each side. The interior of the box has subtle burnt wood patterns, and the bottom has six leaves etched in. Side one of the box depicts an old man, dressed like a sailer or fisherman with a yellow hat, white beard, smoking a pipe, and a dark blue top on, he is holding something in his right hand. The words "The pipe draws wisdom / From the lips of the / philosopher / And shuts in the mouth / of the foolish" are etched above and below the illustration. Side two of the box depicts a young child with light brown curly hair, wearing a red and green striped long sleeve shirt, white pants, red socks, brown shoes, and is holding an american football. The words "No man is really a / man who has lost out of him all / the boy." are etched above and bloew the illustration. Side three of the box depicts ten playing cards fanned out in sets of five: the ace of clubs, the king of clubs, the queen of clubs, the jack of clubs, and the ten of clubs as well as the two of clubs, the two of hearts, the two of spades, the two of diamonds, and the eight of spades. The words: "A glass is good, and a lass is good / And a pipe to smoke in cold / [weather]; the world is good / and the people are good / and we're all good fellows / together." are etched above and below the illustration. Side four of the box depicts a man drinking from a pint. The man is wearing a green cap, has white hair underneath it, and is wearing a green hooded cloak. He is seated at a table and is perhaps a man of religion/faith. The words: "I cannot eat but little meat my / stomach is not good but / sure I think that I can / drink with him that /wears a hood." are etched above and below the illustration." Side five of the box depicts a table with a box on top of it that holds an open book, a maroon smoking pipe, and a brown bag. The words: "And though one's eyes will dream / astray and lips forget to sue or / sway, / It is 'enough to merely be' / with pipe and book." are etched above and below the illustration. Side 6 of the box depicts the profile of a woman with long, style brown hair and a large, floating cigar in front of her. The words: "Keep me at hand; and as my / fumes arise you'll find / a jar the gates of / paradise." are etched above and below the illustration. The underneath of the box is etched with the date "JAN.15th 06." and signed in small text below that is "I.M.E." which stands for Isabelle Maude Edey (the maker of the box).

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Isabelle "Bella" Maude Edey

Role

Artist

Date made

Jan 15, 1906

Notes

Etched on the bottom of the object beside maker's initials. Unsure if Isabelle made the box or just decorated it.

Date the box was made/decorated. I.M.E. stands for the maker's initials (Isobel Maud Edey).

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Humidor

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Container, Cigar

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Containers for Smoking & Tobacco

Nomenclature Class

Household Accessories

Nomenclature Category

Category 02: Furnishings

Dimensions

Height

16 cm

Width

17 cm

Depth

15 cm

Material

Wood

Research Notes

Notes

Made by Isabelle Edey in c.1905 (daughter of Moses Chamberlain Edey, and grandmother of donor) who lived in Ottawa all her life (1882-1960). She made the tobacco box for her soon-to-be husband Robert Milton Armstrong and engraved it with “RMA” on the lid. Robert Milton Armstrong was a prominent Ottawa dentist. He practiced dentistry in the city for more than 50 years out of his business at 56 Sparks Street, he retired in 1951. The two married September 19, 1906 in Ottawa. The art of burnt wood crafts is known as pyrography and is one of the oldest human art forms but had a resurgence in the nineteenth century and Victorian era with the invention of pyrography machines. Housewives and young adults in North America were encouraged to engage in the craft to keep them busy and to create projects that would beatify their homes.