Etui
ca. 1740-1780 (made)
| Place of origin |
Etuis were small containers for personal use. They could hold small needlework accessories or scissors and tweezers for personal care. They were usually finely decorated and some were jewelled. This one is decorated with vernis Martin, which was used in France to imitate Asian lacquer. It got its name from the Martin family, who in 1730 were granted a monopoly on the varnishes they had created to imitate lacquer. On French objects this name is now applied to all sorts of decoration that in English would be called 'japanning'.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Of vernis Martin, decorated in yellow and green on black, with bands of gilded copper, on a carcase of copper, the interior gilded |
| Brief description | Etui, of circular section, with pull-off lid, the exterior decorated in green and yellow with putti on a blackground, all in vernis Martin |
| Physical description | Etui of circular section with pull-off lid, the exterior decorated in green and yellow with putti on a black ground, all in vernis Martin, the interior gilded. Carcase of copper. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Alfred Williams Hearn Gift |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Etuis were small containers for personal use. They could hold small needlework accessories or scissors and tweezers for personal care. They were usually finely decorated and some were jewelled. This one is decorated with vernis Martin, which was used in France to imitate Asian lacquer. It got its name from the Martin family, who in 1730 were granted a monopoly on the varnishes they had created to imitate lacquer. On French objects this name is now applied to all sorts of decoration that in English would be called 'japanning'. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.42-1923 |
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| Record created | November 7, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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