Design
ca.1790 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Designs (6 on 1 sheet) for a set of five boxes, with enamelled gold borders, and a bracelet, each of which was intended to be decorated with human hair. On the boxes, the hair is indicated in brown watercolour and it is shown arranged in a plaited pattern on those that are round. An anonymous designer drew these designs about 1790 for Marie-Caroline of Hapsburg-Lorraine (1751-1825), sister of Marie-Antoinette and wife of Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, of the two Sicilies. Marie-Caroline was Queen of Naples and indeed the sheet of designs is inscribed 'pour la reine de naples'.
The designs are 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.
The designs are 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.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and wash on paper |
| Brief description | Design form album of designs by Ouizille, French, eighteenth century. NOT TO BE ISSUED WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE HEAD OF DESIGNS |
| Physical description | Designs (6 on 1 sheet) for a set of five boxes and a bracelet (?) decorated with hair, with enamelled gold borders. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'pour la reine de naples' (Inscribed in pencil twice, once along the top and once along the bottom of the sheet of paper.
Marie-Caroline of Hapsburg-Lorraine, Queen of Naples (1751-1825).)
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| Credit line | Purchased with the assistance of Wartski Limited |
| Object history | Historical significance: These designs were for five boxes and a bracelet , made of hair, were drawn for Marie-Caroline of Hapsburg-Lorraine (1751-1825), sister of Marie-Antoinette and wife of Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, of the two Sicilies. A round box carries the letter 'L' in gold on the top. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Designs (6 on 1 sheet) for a set of five boxes, with enamelled gold borders, and a bracelet, each of which was intended to be decorated with human hair. On the boxes, the hair is indicated in brown watercolour and it is shown arranged in a plaited pattern on those that are round. An anonymous designer drew these designs about 1790 for Marie-Caroline of Hapsburg-Lorraine (1751-1825), sister of Marie-Antoinette and wife of Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, of the two Sicilies. Marie-Caroline was Queen of Naples and indeed the sheet of designs is inscribed 'pour la reine de naples'. The designs are 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. |
| Bibliographic reference | Heike Zech, 'Designs for Gold Boxes in the Album of the Workshop of Jean Ducrollay and his Successors', in Going for Gold: craftsmanship and collecting of gold boxes, ed. Tessa Murdoch and Heike Zech (Sussex academic press, 2014). |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.897:228-1988 |
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| Record created | July 17, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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