A rare enameled metal disc from an old cigar vending machine. This type of mechanism was used in various public places from the late 19th to the early 20th century: cafes, hotels, train stations, and even brothels where tobacco, cigars, and sometimes even condoms were offered through secure dispensers. The piece is decorated with female allegories engraved in black on a white background, representing the arts, sciences, commerce, and industry, surrounded by neoclassical ornamentation. The disc is numbered from 1 to 29 with the word "EMPTY," a reminder of its function as a mechanical control mechanism for dispensing. A rare piece that blends the history of tobacco, the vending machine, and urban social life.
✦ Origin: France, cigar distributor ✦ Estimated period: Circa 1890-1910 ✦ Dimensions: Ø 26.5 cm ✦ Material: Enamelled metal ✦ Condition: Signs of wear, enamel chips along the edge, oxidation on the reverse, but the designs are intact and clearly legible
Superb example of vintage vending machines – ideal for collectors of curiosities, counter items or memories of brothels.
