A. Latry & Compagnie was founded in 1859, when the contractor Alfred LATRY bought the patent from LEPAGE, who invented the "Bois Durci". This material was invented and patented by the French François Charles LEPAGE in 1855. It is composed of blood (provided by the slaughterhouses of Paris) mixed with sawdust (mostly ebony, jacaranda or rosewood), and mixed with other substances such as albumin. The essence of the wood gave the dominant colour, for example black with the ebony wood or red-brown hues with the rosewood, although the colour could be accentuated by adding the coloured pigments. Molded objects refer to small household items, such as office items as inkwells, medallions or picture frames, but also decorative or fashion items such as combs, brooches or small accessories. The factories were in the district of Javel in Paris and the shop in the Marais district at 7 rue du Grand-Chantier. In 1862, the company exhibited products at the London Universal Exhibition where they had a great success. In 1898, the MIOM (Manufacture of Insulators and Molds) took over the company of LATRY and continued production with the old molds, till the 20s because of the concurence with bakelite, who completely replaced Bois Durci.