Ronde tabakspot van tombak met deksel 1903

This tobacco pot was made by G.H. Lantman out of tombac, an alloy of copper and zinc, prized for its golden hue. The surface is finely worked with engraved decoration, featuring stylized floral patterns. Tombac, while visually appealing, was also relatively inexpensive. The choice of this material speaks to the growing consumer market for tobacco in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the pot was likely made. It suggests a desire for objects that could project an image of wealth without necessarily entailing great expense. Consider the labor involved in producing this object. The mining and processing of the metals, the alloying process, the shaping of the pot, and the engraving of the surface. Each of these steps would have involved skilled labor, reflecting a complex web of economic activity. By considering the materials, making, and context of this tobacco pot, we can move beyond simple appreciation of its form and decoration, understanding it as a product of social and economic forces.