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Lot Essay
While many marchand-merciers undoubtedly sold such pieces alongside more expensive furnishings, paintings and textiles to their fashionable clientele, other specialist marchands dealt exclusively with such delicate bijoux and toffes. One dealer, Chervain, has been identified as such a marchand, as seen by advertisements such as one from the 30 December 1756 edition of the Annonces, Affiches et Avis Divers. These promotional notices were a timely and subtle reminder that paille work was ideal for trennes, or New Year's gifts:
Le sieur Chervain, marchand, demeurant rue Montmartre, prs de la rue du Jour, fait des Botes vernies la faon de Martin, & doubles de bergamote, qui surpassent tant par leur solidit que par la beaut du travail, toutes celles que l'on a faites jusqu' prsent. Il vend aussi d'excellentes Pastilles.
Strawwork, or paille, boxes were immensely popular in 18th Century Paris. The same taste that prized intimacy and intricacy in interior design and dress shared a fascination with paille marquetry-decorated, personalized accessories. These accessories were decorated with fashionable grotesque, rocaille, orientalized or geometric designs as well as with recondite religious, mythological and amorous symbology.
A related strawwork box from a private collection, inlaid with a medaillion showing a reclining Cupid surrounded by the motto, 'LE REPOS ME DETRUIT', is illustrated in L. de Caunes, et. al, La Marqueterie de Paille, Paris, 1993, p. 111, fig. 96.
Le sieur Chervain, marchand, demeurant rue Montmartre, prs de la rue du Jour, fait des Botes vernies la faon de Martin, & doubles de bergamote, qui surpassent tant par leur solidit que par la beaut du travail, toutes celles que l'on a faites jusqu' prsent. Il vend aussi d'excellentes Pastilles.
Strawwork, or paille, boxes were immensely popular in 18th Century Paris. The same taste that prized intimacy and intricacy in interior design and dress shared a fascination with paille marquetry-decorated, personalized accessories. These accessories were decorated with fashionable grotesque, rocaille, orientalized or geometric designs as well as with recondite religious, mythological and amorous symbology.
A related strawwork box from a private collection, inlaid with a medaillion showing a reclining Cupid surrounded by the motto, 'LE REPOS ME DETRUIT', is illustrated in L. de Caunes, et. al, La Marqueterie de Paille, Paris, 1993, p. 111, fig. 96.