Champagne in Ice Bucket, from the Miniature Novelties series (N120) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1891

This promotional card for Honest Long Cut Tobacco, created by W. Duke, Sons & Co., features two women amidst champagne bottles in an ice bucket. The champagne, a symbol of luxury and celebration, is central here. Consider its historical echoes; the act of toasting, common in many cultures, evolved from libations offered to deities in ancient rituals. Similarly, the bucket motif has ancient roots as seen in Minoan and Egyptian art. Here, however, the bucket holds champagne instead of water. The champagne bucket, and its associations with celebration, may be seen, for example, in rococo paintings of bacchanals. The gesture of celebration transcends time and is continually re-experienced. These echoes engage viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The image invites us to consider how symbols resurface and evolve, taking on new meanings in different contexts.