Back in November we covered the fantastic activist artworks from Negweny El Assal, a master of transforming cigarette butts into meaningful masterpieces. And today we have something very similar to share.

In the classic Dutch village of Volendam (situated next to Edam and twinned with England’s own Coventry) is a unique mosaic style. Located next to the museum, the Cigar Band House is awash with the warm reds and oranges of cigar bands.

Since 1947 Volendam native Nico Molenaar began collecting an assortment of cigar bands. The central medallions were then crafted into a huge number of designs and mosaics that were glued onto panels and became permanent fixtures of his home.

Recreating iconic sights, such as the Statue of Liberty, the Cologne Cathedral, and St. Peter’s Basilica, as well as the familiar local sight of a windmill and standard patterned mosaic designs, the space was entirely covered with incredible art.

After Molenaar’s death in 1964 his neighbour Jan Sombroek Cas took over, with him and his family adding to the walls and continuing the legacy. It was estimated that around 7 million cigar bands had been used, with an addition 4.5 million added after Molenaar’s death.

A new post by Hanna Simpson, Diary of a Tile Addict, July 2020.