New York Tiffany Studios Lacquered Bronze ‘Volcano’ Humidor

This lacquered bronze “Volcano” humidor by Tiffany Studios New York features a dramatic design of a submarine volcano surrounded by sea urchins, created by Munich artist Ludwig Vierthaler during his time with Tiffany in the late 1890s. After training at Tiffany & Co. and Tiffany Studios in New York, Vierthaler returned to Germany, where he emerged as a central figure in the Munich Secession. Profoundly influenced by German marine biologist Ernst Haeckel—whose Kunstformen der Natur (1899) helped shape the visual language of Art Nouveau—Vierthaler integrated organic motifs into the humidor’s design, notably the radial grooves and textured surfaces reminiscent of sea urchin shells depicted in Haeckel’s illustrations. The interior of the box is lined with Spanish cedar, a wood prized for its ability to maintain ideal humidity and temperature for cigar storage. Renowned for absorbing and releasing moisture as needed, Spanish cedar helps prevent cigars from becoming too dry or overly moist, while also acting as a natural insect repellent and imparting a pleasant, distinctive aroma.