Mekka Cardboard Tobacco Box
Identifier
TBADC0008
Title
Mekka Cardboard Tobacco Box
Description
Red cardboard box depicting an Arab man smoking a tobacco pipe, he wears a white Arab robe with blue and gold detailing on it along with a headscarf. This box was used to contain 50g of Oriental mix tobacco. Created by Cruwell-Tabak. The word "Mekka" is located next to the Arab figure in large yellow font along with the words "capochiert... milder feinschnitt Orient mischung" in yellow, white, and black italic font. The term "capochiert" is purely an advertising statement, which means that only the tips of the leaf (caput, the head) have been processed. This indicates the high quality of the tobacco leaf.
Language
German
Creator
Gebr. Crüwell (Tabakfabrik)
Type
Cardboard Box
Source
The Black Archives
Format
Tobacco Box
Subject
Middle Eastern Man, Arab Man, Oriental Caricature
Coverage
Pipe, Robes, Tobacco, Keys, Building
Date
c.1965
Physical Dimensions
13x7.5x3
Country of Production
Germany
Place of Production
Bielefeld
Keywords
Tobacco, Advertising, Caricature, Orientalism
Copyright
Geb. Cruwell
Rightholder
Geb. Cruwell
Archived By
Richard Weaver
Oral History
This object was included in the Documenta collection as a result of Richard using it to teach Basil how to archive the object collection. During this process, the tobacco case was attributed to the nearby city of Bielefeld in close proximity to Kassel.
Bibliography
https://rlp.museum-digital.de/object/71869; https://phebusmuzayede.com/15432-mekka-cruwell-tabak-karton-sigara-kutusu-12x7x3-cm.html
Collection
Citation
Gebr. Crüwell (Tabakfabrik), “Mekka Cardboard Tobacco Box,” The Black Archives, accessed April 22, 2025, https://collection.theblackarchives.nl/items/show/3553.