19th century french tabac sign

Late 19th century French Tabac carrot. An original tole tabac sign or carrot dating to the late 19th century. The tabac carrot is still used today for tobacco shops across France.

This is a very old sign and as such has associated wear and tear, it would make an amazing prop/restaurant decoration or a fantastic kitchen talking point.These signs are usually red, this is a rare example of a brown one, the only one I have seen.The symbol for a Bureau de Tabac is called a carotte rouge (red carrot) and has been the obligatory sign for these specialist shops selling cigarettes and tobacco since 1906.Modern signs are more in the shape of an elongated diamond, but they have always been linked to a carrot.One common reason given to explain the shape and name of this iconic French shop sign is the old practice of using carrots to keep tobacco moist, They were originally brown or red, but now they are always red.However, the more likely explanation is that in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries chewing tobacco was sold in rolls of compressed leaves in a shape similar to that of a carrot. The user then had to grate the tobacco.The first Bureaux de Tabacs opened in 1716, shortly after the arrival of tobacco in France in the mid-16th century. It was introduced by the French ambassador to Portugal, Jean Nicot, who grew tobacco in his garden.The carrot is supported with a simple iron hook that can be easily wall-mounted. Condition and patina consistent with age. 31 high x 7 ½'' diameter

Antiques.co.uk Ref: MUAAAJEG3

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