Christophe FRATIN (Metz, 1801 - Le Raincy, 1864) Large cigar-holder, Tombeau à Jean Nicot, decorated with bears, monkeys and tobacco leaves and flowers Bronze with brown and gold patina Dedicated 'A JEAN NICOT, QUI NOUS APPORTE LE TABAC L'AN 1560.' (almost completely erased) and signed and dated 'UN FUMEUR / RECONNAISSANT / FRATIN. (peu lisible) / 1842.' in the shell. Bears the founder's mark 'SUSSE Fres' on the base Several quotations on the base: Tell me what you smoke, I'll tell you who you are. Melle Lenormand'. When you're not happy, you smoke. Théodore Burelle' Glory is smoke, so smoke is war. Napoleon The coarse man chews, the serious man takes, the witty man smokes, only the lively man knows how to smoke. Provenance: Geneviève and Pierre Hebey Collection, Paris ; Their sale; Paris, Artcurial, 23 February 2016, no. 379 ; Acquired at this sale by the current owner Exhibitions: 'Fratin. Objets décoratifs & Sculptures romantiques', Paris, Univers du Bronze, 2000, p. 30-31, no. 24 This lot will be reproduced in the artist's catalogue raisonné currently being prepared by Michel Poletti and Alain Richarme. Christophe FRATIN (Metz, 1801 - Le Raincy, 1864) This lot will be reproduced in the artist's catalogue raisonné currently being prepared by Michel Poletti and Alain Richarme.