Museum Collections
Luce Center
Cigarette silk
Object name
Cigarette silk
Date
1890-1920
Medium
Cloth
Dimensions
3 1/4 x 2 1/2 in.
Description
A small natural beige silk cloth printed with a color portrait of a woman labeled "Eugenie, Empress of France, 1853-1870", in a white lace off-the-shoulder dress with red ribbons wearing a gold crown with a trailing white veil and a pearl necklace. Printed "Zira Cigarettes" at the bottom edge. Empress Eugenie (1826-1920), the wife of Napoleon III., was born at Grenada Spain. She was the grand daughter of William Kirkpatrick, United States consul at Malaga, a Scotsman by birth and an American by nationality. She bore a son, Prince Louis, who was killed in the Zulu wars in Africa in 1879, after which she retired to England and allowed her estate to be used as a hospital during World War I. One of a series of queens and empresses. Given as collectible premiums by cigarette manufacturers.
Credit Line
Gift of Bella C. Landauer
Object Number
2002.1.3238
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.




