Punch: A Storied Art Icon
Step into The Hardy Room, and you’ll find yourself immersed in a setting where fine cigars, spirited conversation, and rich history converge. Among the most talked-about treasures within The Hardy Room is Punch, a vibrant, larger-than-life figure whose presence is as captivating as the stories he’s carried and overheard.
The Tobacconist
The tradition of using symbolic signage dates back to 1600s England and became widespread in 19th-century America, where literacy was not yet universal. Merchants used visual cues to draw in customers: a red, white, and blue pole for barbers; three gold balls for pawn shops; a mortar and pestle for apothecaries. For tobacconists, a carved Native American — or “Virginnie man” — became the emblem of the trade.
Punch is far more than decorative; he is an artifact of tobacco’s cultural history. The Punch cigar brand was established in 1840, as a nod to Mr. Punch of the famous British puppet duo, Punch and Judy. The figure of Punch displayed in The Hardy Room is attributed to woodcarver “Jersey Jim” Campbell and is believed to have been created for the brand in 1875. In a time when branding relied heavily on visual symbols, the Punch character served as the company’s answer to the traditional carved figure once commonly placed outside tobacco shops to indicate what was sold within.
Punch cigars, now owned by General Cigar Co., continues to use a modern caricature of Punch as part of their branding. Once crafted in Cuba and now produced in Honduras, the cigars remain among the most respected in the world, with blends sourced from Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua. Aficionados may even choose to join the exclusive Punch Brotherhood, a nod to the enduring camaraderie among cigar enthusiasts.
