Pamprin Cigar Box

Black Rose

Cardboard, Paper

In the early 1900s, this Pamperin cigar box housed Black Rose brand cigars whose smooth smoke was once enjoyed by the many businessmen of the midwest region.  Today, however, all that remains is the box and its colorful print which was a vital role in advertising and contributed to the success of the cigar in the 20th century.  Cigar smoking was seen as a coming of age activity for young men of the time.  These novice smokers would have chosen their first cigars based on the attractiveness of the box.  This made the print design on the boxes a significant component of the highly competitive tobacco industries.  For this cigar box, the design for the print was patented by the Pamperin Cigar Company.

Mercedes Fowler is from Middleton, Wisconsin.  She is an Art Major with Photography and Archaeological studies Minors at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse who the hopes to go into museum studies.

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Acrylic on Canvas

Envision the Pamperin cigar box sitting on an executive boardroom table, showcasing its multifaceted layers of history - history of the company, the cigar, and the box itself with its alluring chromolithographic and embossed design. Portions of these layers linger in shadow, as some historical details may forever remain a mystery.

Sarah Pederson is a self-taught artist with a business degree from UW-Madison. She primarily works with acrylics to create murals and fine art on canvas.

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