The Wolfsonian–FIU presents the various forms of a single device as a way to explore the habits and values of the men who used them. Smoke Signals: Cigar Cutters and Masculine Values, on view April 25 through September 29, is drawn from a recent donation of 361 cigar cutters by Miami collector Richard Kronenberg.
With the rising popularity of cigar smoking in the late 19th century, a new device emerged. Used to snip the end of the rolled cigar without damaging its structure, cigar cutters ranged from utilitarian knife-like tools to elaborate decorative and figural objects. The installation presents examples that take many forms, including dogs, revolvers, champagne bottles, or women, as well as others that advertise various businesses. As reflections of their owner’s interests, affiliations and tastes, these articles offer an intriguing window onto the culture of masculinity during this era.
“Working with cigar cutters has been both a challenge and a voyage of discovery, as I knew little to nothing about them prior to this project, and very little has been written,” said curator Lea Nickless. “What I found fascinating is the potential of the most mundane of everyday objects to tell us about the past and about ourselves. They are artifacts embedded with meaning, awaiting decoding.”
Smoke Signals will include 141 cigar cutters from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, shedding light on leisure pursuits and class aspirations, as well as demeaning attitudes towards women. A portion of the installation will be provocatively displayed in a mid-century Beauty Bar cabinet used originally to display cosmetics, perfumes, and other products associated with femininity.
“Richard Kronenberg’s collecting style and interests are very Wolfsonian. He was intrigued by the many facets of these ordinary and often overlooked objects, and we are proud to give them a home here,” said WolfsonianDirector Casey Steadman. “You do not need to be a cigar enthusiast to appreciate the stories about the broader social and cultural world that this collection allows the museum to tell.”
The installation will be augmented with select graphic materials from the Wolfsonian collection, as well as a digital presentation cycling images of the gifted cigar cutters not physically on view in the installation.
Exhibition Credit
Installation and Beauty Bar restoration made possible by Richard Kronenberg and his recent donation of cigar cutters.