Tobacco Vessel “M. Gennies Nachflg. – Erich Gronwald – Tabak-Fabrik Tilsit” – Rare Porcelain Artifact from East Prussia

Rarity and Value
This rare glazed stoneware tobacco flask originates from the historic East Prussian city of Tilsit (now Sovetsk, Russia), likely dating to the late 19th or early 20th century. Bearing the inscription “M. Gennies Nachflg. – Erich Gronwald – Tabak-Fabrik Tilsit,” it represents a promotional or utilitarian item produced by a regional tobacco factory during a time when such branded vessels were common in trade and everyday use. These bottles were typically filled with snuff or pipe tobacco and distributed to loyal customers or sold as collectibles. Their survival today is uncommon, particularly in such pristine condition.

Discovery and Iconography
On one side of the flask, the raised lettering surrounds the manufacturer’s identity. The reverse features a molded relief of a gentleman in period attire, caught in the act of taking a pinch of snuff—an intimate and nostalgic image of past customs. This expressive detail captures the social role of tobacco in European culture during the industrial age.

Craftsmanship and Presentation
The flask is formed in classic salt-glazed stoneware, rendered in grey and cobalt blue—a traditional color palette used in German pottery. The fine detail of the bas-relief portrait and crisp lettering attest to high-quality mold production. Compact and sturdy, the flask retains its tactile appeal and authenticity, standing as a graceful memento of an era when craftsmanship and commerce went hand in hand.

Human Touch
Handled countless times, likely passed from customer to customer, this piece carries the charm of a bygone era. Whether admired as a marketing relic, a functional antique, or an example of regional European ceramics, it is a window into everyday life and material culture from the tobacco age of the early 1900s.