Fine quality 19th century tobacco cutter featuring a blade pierced with a star and surmounted by a bird. The handle has copper and brass sides and the cutter is mounted on a shield-shaped maple block. The base exhibits a split at the top center point of the shield which terminates at the iron post. A few other minor cracks and areas of wear and surface loss are evident. The jagged line seen on one side of the blade beneath the bird's foot is within the surface and is not a through crack. Forged and cast iron, copper and brass handle, maple block. English or American. c1850. 7" H x 12.5" x 9" D. CODE-TOB