Late Victorian Brass Cuspidor

Story

In the late 1800s, spittoons were ubiquitous fixtures of public life, found in every saloon, hotel lobby, and courtroom. This brass vessel represents a time when tobacco chewing was a dominant social habit before public health campaigns phased them out.

Maker / Origin

While the partial stamp on the underside is currently unidentified, numerous brass foundries across the American Midwest and Northeast—as well as major export centers in Birmingham, England—mass-produced heavy brassware of this caliber to supply the booming hospitality and transport industries of the Gilded Age.

Condition & Value

The brass exhibits a warm, aged patina with minor surface scratches, small dings, and tarnish consistent with age and use. There are no major splits along the central seam, which preserves its structural integrity and decorative value. Value is driven primarily by the historical novelty and decorative appeal of Gilded Age brassware.