Design
- Place of origin:
Paris (made)
- Date:
ca.1770-1780 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Unknown
- Materials and Techniques:
Pencil on paper
- Credit Line:
Purchased with the assistance of Wartski Limited
- Museum number:
E.897:263-1988
- Gallery location:
Prints & Drawings Study Room, level E, case CUP, shelf 5, box A
Design showing a figure composition for an oval box top inscribed in pen and ink on the back of the design 'Barbet Noir avec un Collier' which means 'black spaniel with a collar' which refers to the dog on the front. This design was drawn by an anonymous designer in about 1770 to 1790 possibly for an elite client from the Court of Louis XV, King of France, from 1715 to 1774, or that of Louis XVI, King of France from 1774 until 1791, at Versailles, Paris.
This design is from an album of designs which date from about 1735-1820 and includes those for snuffboxes, scent holders, watches and watch cases, spoons, fans and fan mounts, small swords, and chatelaines (ornamental chains, pins, or clasps usually worn at a woman's waist, to which trinkets, keys, purses, or other articles are attached).
There is a close relationship between the contents of the album and known work by three Parisian goldsmiths, Jean Ducrollay (1710-1787), Pierre- François Drais (active 1761-1788), and Charles Ouizille (1744-1830) whose names appear on the first page of the album. This suggests that all the designs emanate from their workshops. Drais worked for the Court at Versailles as jeweller to both King Louis XV and Louis XVI. Ouizille worked in this capacity for Louis XVI. Most of the material dates from the period 1755-90.
