Cherrywood Mirror

Cherry wood (bois de Sainte Lucie) and mirror glass dressing mirror (mioir-de-toilette)
Nancy, Lorraine, circa 1690
Probably made by Nicolas-Francois Foulon (1628-1698)

Provenance: probably sold through the atelier of Cesar Bagard de Nancy
Comparative literature: H. Demoriane, "Bois de Bagard," Connaissance des Arts, January, 11968, p. 91.

The carving of small objects from this hard, dense wood, namely prunus mahaleb or bois de Sainte-Lucie -- a variety of cherry wood found in the forest of Sampigny-en-Barrois and named after a convent located there -- was a specialty of Lorraine in the late seventeenth century. This industry thrived after the sumptuous edicts of 1689-1709 dictated that small personal objects, including those used as wedding gifts, such as toilette accessories, boxes, and mirrors could non longer be made of silver or gold.
Tabletiers made these items from bois de Sainte-Lucie using the repertoire of designs and motifs formerly found in silver. Working in the style established by the Great Bagard, Foulon produced mirrors and objects for a wide clientele, including Louis XIV's son, the Grand Dauphin.

Related literature:
P. Marot, "Recherches sur les sculpteurs en 'bois de Saint-Lucie' : les Foullon", in Le Pays lorrain Jornal de la societe d'archeologie Lorraine et du muse historique lorrain, n.1, 1968.
H. Demoriane, "Le bois de Bagard", in Connaissance des arts", n. 191, January, 1968.
C. Humbert, "Les arts decoratifs en Lorraine, de la fin de XVIIe siecle a l'ere industrielle", Paris 1993.