Nécessaire 1730 - 1765

This delightful little object, a nécessaire or travel kit, was made by Joseph Martineau, Sr. It combines the natural beauty of banded agate, with the artifice of chased gold. Agate, a form of chalcedony quartz, was prized for its rich, swirling patterns, its appeal lying in the material itself. The gold, in contrast, has been carefully worked to create elaborate rococo patterns. The box provided a complete set of accessories for personal grooming. These might have included scent bottles, scissors, knives, or writing implements. They speak to the culture of aristocratic luxury, when even the simplest tasks were elevated to an art form. The time and resources poured into such an object underscores the stark social divisions of the 18th century. Consider the intense labor involved in quarrying the agate, cutting it to fit the box's form, and the goldsmith's painstaking work. Understanding this helps us appreciate the object's full meaning, well beyond its surface appeal.