Altered Cigar Boxes

(Above:  Forty-six finished, altered cigar boxes.  Click on any image to enlarge.)

They are finished!  All forty-six cigar boxes have been covered in decorative paper and paint, collaged with vintage and antique ephemera, waxed, and tagged.  I use ordinary, clear wax on all the surfaces.  This eliminates any sticking that can happen when two surfaces coated in matte medium are put together.  Heat and pressure cause acrylics to adhere.  Wax prevents it.

(Above:  Machine zigzagged cord and watercolor paper tags.)

Finally, I decided to add a permanent tag to every box.  I used watercolor paper tags and my thinnest cording.  The cording was made previously.  It is simply two strands of neglected yarn, zigzagged densely into a cord.

(Above:  Detail of a tag.)

Each tag was slipped through two holes drilled in the back of each box.  Thus, every box has both a number in the series and an inventory number in my permanent records.  The tags also have my name and date.  Finally, I photographed each box from the outside and inside.  Of course, these images don't include the sides and bottom.  All six interior and all six exterior surfaces are decoratively covered.

(Above:  Box One. Inventory # 4465. 4" x 8" x 5".)

I made these boxes in order to finally use the stash of vintage and antique prints I'd collected over several years.  I know that my intention was to finally USE these materials instead of continuing to store them, turn POTENTIAL into ART.  It was a goal and I accomplished it.  I'm very pleased.  They are all very, very pretty, but the truth of the matter is that I have no future plan to exhibit them. My plan was only the MAKE and FINISH them. Now, my only wish is that every one of them might find a home.  Thus, I'm offering them for sale at $125 including tax and shipping within the USA or $100 plus tax if purchased at Mouse House in Columbia (after I get home on May 14th) or from me in person.  So here they are!  Scroll down!  Enjoy!  I accept all forms of payment and can being shipping on May 14th. 

(Above: Box Two. Inventory # 4466. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Three. Inventory # 4467. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Four. Inventory # 4468. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Five. Inventory # 4469. 4" x 8" x 5".)  SOLD!

(Above: Box Six. Inventory # 4470. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Seven. Inventory # 4471. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Eight. Inventory # 4472. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Nine. Inventory # 4473. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Ten. Inventory # 4474. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Eleven. Inventory # 4475. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Twelve. Inventory # 4476. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Thirteen. Inventory # 4477. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Fourteen. Inventory # 4478. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Fifteen. Inventory # 4479. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Sixteen. Inventory # 4480. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Seventeen. Inventory # 4481. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Eighteen. Inventory # 4482. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Nineteen. Inventory # 4483. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Twenty. Inventory # 4484. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Twenty-One. Inventory # 4485. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Twenty-Three. Inventory # 4487. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Twenty-Four. Inventory # 4488. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Twenty-Five. Inventory # 4489. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Twenty-Six. Inventory # 4490. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Twenty-Seven. Inventory # 4491. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Twenty-Eight. Inventory # 4492. 2 1/2" x 8" x 8".)

(Above: Box Thirty. Inventory # 4494. 2 1/2" x 8 3/4" x 7 1/2".)

(Above: Box Thirty-One. Inventory # 4495. 2 1/2" x 8" x 8".)

(Above: Box Thirty-Two. Inventory # 4496. 2 1/2" x 8" x 8".)

(Above: Box Thirty-Three. Inventory # 4497. 2 1/2" x 8" x 8".)

(Above: Box Thirty-Four. Inventory # 4498. 2 1/2" x 8" x 8".)

(Above: Box Thirty-Five. Inventory # 4499. 2 1/2" x 8" x 8".)

(Above: Box Thirty-Six. Inventory # 4500. 2 1/2" x 8" x 8".)

(Above: Box Thirty-Seven. Inventory # 4501. 2 1/2" x 8" x 8".)

(Above: Box Thirty-Eight. Inventory # 4502. 2 1/2" x 8" x 8".)

(Above: Box Thirty-Nine. Inventory # 4503. 2 1/2" x 8" x 8".)

(Above: Box Forty. Inventory # 4504. 2 1/2" x 8" x 8".)

(Above: Box Forty-One. Inventory # 4505. 2 1/2" x 8" x 8".)

(Above: Box Forty-Two. Inventory # 4506. 2 1/2" x 8" x 8".)

(Above: Box Forty-Three. Inventory # 4507. 2 1/2" x 8" x 8".)

(Above: Box Forty-Four. Inventory # 4508. 2 x 8 3/4" x 6 3/4".)

(Above: Box Forty-Five. Inventory # 4509. 2 1/2" x 8" x 8".)

(Above: Box Forty-Six. Inventory # 4510. 2 1/2" x 8" x 8".)

(Above: Box Twenty-Two. Inventory # 4486. 4" x 8" x 5".)

(Above: Box Twenty-Nine. Inventory # 4593. 4" x 8" x 5".)