A rare and important French kingwood humidor by Jean-Pierre Alexander Tahan, bearing the makers stamp "Tahan/Paris" on the lock, made in Paris circa 1875. The original key and black felt storage compartments are intact and in excellent condition. The box is embellished with silver metal mounts that are delicately etched with fine detail complimenting the highly figured kingwood. Kingwood is an handsome, exotic Brazilian wood often used for the finest furniture. Its name comes from the fact that it was the preferred wood of the kings of France in the 18th century.

Jean-Pierre Tahan was the son of the Alphonse Tahan, ébéniste to Napoleon III. Jean-Pierre continued the legacy of his father, and his business in Paris was celebrated f