Briefcase (portefuille) 1763 - 1764

Curator: Here we have an exquisite example of Rococo decorative art. This “Briefcase,” or “portefeuille” as it was known, was crafted sometime between 1763 and 1764 by Jacques Lourdière. Notice the meticulous wood carving and gilding? Editor: It strikes me immediately as less about practicality and more about pure, flamboyant status. That red and gold is dazzling! It feels like contained opulence. What kind of 'briefs' were being carried in such a treasure? Curator: Certainly not dull ones! Objects like these signaled sophistication and taste. The style is clearly Rococo, popular among the aristocracy, known for ornate detail and playful asymmetry. Consider the cultural milieu: decorative arts played a central role in aristocratic self-representation and courtly life. Editor: Absolutely. And the symbolism, I wonder? The floral motifs crawling across its surface feel deliberately cultivated, stylized nature. Is this about power, perhaps even control, masked as beauty? It seems unlikely to represent the freedom and rawness we might ascribe to uncultivated nature. Curator: It speaks to the fashion for Chinoiserie, incorporating elements of Chinese design, which became a marker of erudite consumption for wealthy Europeans during that era. They certainly weren’t trying to convey the real thing, just the exotic and luxurious *idea* of it, thus enforcing global hierarchical positionality. Editor: Good point! So the symbols were malleable, less about their origin and more about their display. Think about the modern "it" bag – a cultural artifact that reflects both individual taste and dominant societal trends. This object must have played a very similar social function. The possessor broadcasting status and belonging. Curator: Precisely! Its craftsmanship indicates that Jacques Lourdière must have enjoyed the patronage of someone affluent who wanted to convey not only that they have power, but that they were extremely current. Editor: The object, then, becomes an actor. A tiny but mighty stage for signaling social rank. Now I'm seeing it not as mere storage, but as an announcement. Curator: A potent marker of distinction during a volatile time. It's incredible how the decorative can reflect the era’s broader anxieties and social performances. Editor: It invites reflection on how, even in our own age of casual presentation, objects quietly shape perceptions of power.