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Lot 272: Wills's Pirate Shag Tobacco Advertising Figure

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Start price: £50

Estimated price: £100 - £150

Buyer's Premium: 16%

A countertop advertising display figure for Wills’s Pirate Shag tobacco, constructed from painted plaster. The figure depicts a pirate caricature with a red and gold polka-dot bandana, black jacket, and gold-toned trousers, standing against a stepped base. The front of the base features raised lettering in red reading WILLS’S PIRATE SHAG, with painted white text above stating 8 1/2d PER 1/2 OZ. The figure holds a detachable paper-wrapped cardboard tobacco pack prop printed with W.D. & H.O. WILLS BRISTOL and Old Friend flanking a central portrait of a man. The rear of the base features an impressed mark reading I.T.C.9632. The underside of the base shows exposed plaster with adhesive residue and remnants of white material where a protective backing was previously attached. 14 inches high


Condition report:

There is significant paint loss and flaking to the red bandana, particularly on the reverse (photo 3), and further scattered paint chips to the face, hair, and black jacket (photo 1 and 2). The base shows wear to the edges and corners with associated paint loss (photo 1). The detachable tobacco pack prop has staining, creasing, and tearing to the paper wrapper at the top edge (photo 4). The underside is lacking its original felt or paper covering, leaving exposed adhesive and plaster (photo 6).