Jewel coffer on stand (petit coffre à bijoux) 1770 - 1780

This jewel coffer was made by Martin Carlin in France in the late eighteenth century. The commode is an example of the Rococo style which emerged in France and was very fashionable between 1730-1770. Carlin was one of a number of Parisian ebenistes, or cabinet makers who catered to an aristocratic clientele. The coffer is ornamented with floral Sevres porcelain plaques, gilt bronze mounts and a tulipwood veneer. These luxurious materials and the refined craftsmanship speak to the opulence of pre-Revolutionary France and the decorative excess that was criticized by Enlightenment thinkers. By looking at the object’s design, construction, and patronage, we can learn about the social and political context in which it was made and the cultural values that it embodied. Documents such as estate inventories, sales records, and design drawings, help us to understand the coffer’s place in the history of decorative arts and its relation to the wider culture of its time.