Expert: M J Robbins - 12/30/2010

Question
QUESTION: I have a large display humidor that I was told by a friend who had a decent history with cigars that it is a fairly sought after and rare humidor made by or related to (can't remember) the famous crime family.  Some where in the family tree is apparently some cigar manufacturer or company?

Approximately 27 1/2" wide, 9 3/4" front to back and 18 3/4" top to bottom.  It is all glass except for the thick plexi edging all around.  Single glass shelf that can be adjusted by metal side brackets inserted into holes.  Hanging from each of these brackets is a very large wet stones (reddish tone)with brass colored (real?) edging.

It is commercial and I bought it used from an old store. It’s not ancient though and quite modern.  If I were to guess I would say no earlier then 1970's.

Any information you might have historically or, probably more importantly value (I have an interested party who was visibly excited) , wise I would appreciate.  I haven't been able to do the right searches to find anything on it and since the description itself is quite plain it makes it even more difficult.

Kind of a lame picture I know but the sucker is super heavy and behind my TV, etc..  Should give you the idea anyway and not much value added to seeing the other side.

Thanks!

ANSWER: It looks to be a store display case that was used as a humidor.
It might have been made by a crime family and it would be a crime to keep your cigars in there.
I do not know more but I would need more pictures all around to give any assessment of the quality of the case and it's value.

Mike

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Mike, super fast response and I appreciate the time.

I was hoping my description was good enough but I could certainly see that guess given the picture but clearly a humidor.

I remembered them being there but initially I couldn't see the two large clear (why I didn't see them from a distance!) with Gold lettering Macanudo decals on either side and also another decal on the bottom that I had never noticed that says "This Humidor Display case..." and how it should only be used to display their cigars.

Actually kept my butts in there for years and it's a pretty effective humidor with the large stones even half filled.

Sounds like name didn't ring a bell which was more of what I was after and I figure if it did ring a bell then you might have noted differences/similarities between this one and any large ones made by someone connected to the Providence RI family.  What I really need to find as a start is some history on the Patriarcha/Patriarca (seen it both ways) humidors and cigar business in general but even that has been elusive.

Given that I certainly don't want to take away time from other questions so I'll continue the research on my end though I now have doubts on finding anything definitive since I've already spent a good deal of time prior to hitting you up.

Great that your out there and thanks yet again for your time!  Happy for anything you might think to add but no expectations.

Answer
I believe that this piece from this view is not that valuable unless the history runs to someone like Al Capone but even then the construction is important.
Real wood or pressed. Solid walnut? or
Mitred construction of fine quality,is as important as the history. But a later history piece like this might only have a value to someone related to that history?
Keep that in mind in determining a value.

Give me complete pictures to help with the construction quality or determine this yourself to achieve a value.
So I am saying that the condition and quality of the display case could trump the history value with this late date piece.

Good luck
Mike