Tam Tam, from the Musical Instruments series (N82) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

This is a cigarette card from the Musical Instruments series, created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. sometime between 1870 and 1920. It depicts a woman in what is meant to be exotic garb, posed as though she is about to strike a tam-tam. These cards were inserted into cigarette packs to stiffen them and entice consumers. The imagery on them provides insight into the cultural values of the time. In this case, we see a celebration of both music and an imagined “oriental” aesthetic. The company’s claim to be the “largest cigarette manufacturers in the world” speaks to the rise of industrial capitalism and global markets. The card provides an opportunity to explore the intertwined histories of commerce, art, and cultural representation. A deeper understanding of the period, its class structure, and its colonial ambitions can be obtained through careful study of sources such as trade publications, company records, and popular media. These resources can help us contextualize and interpret the meanings embedded in this small but revealing piece of commercial art.