Case
Accessories
Inventory number
2018.12.5.8ab.AC.GL.C1800.FRDescription
Eyeglasses case or Billet doux made of straw marquetry, inspired by the Napoleon Bonaparte's French Campaign in Egypt and Syria (1798–1801). Depicting on one side an Egyptian cat and on the other side, an antique pitcher surmounted by a flower.Straw marquetry is a craft very similar to that of wood marquetry. Veneer, wheat straw, oat straw or other type of straw was used to mimic the varying shades of wood. The straws was soaked, split and ironed. They could also be tinted from pale gold to deepest dark brown in order to obtain a variety of tones needed for the pattern. The most famous straw marquetry was practised by prisoners of war from the Napoleonic wars but there were also the nuns in France and Switzerland making a variety of items using straw marquetry.
Material
StrawOrigin
circa 1800 FranceDimensions
Width : 2 cmLength : 3 cm
Height : 11 cm