The inventory of precious objects compiled in 1733 calls these two litter-bearers Persians, though they are quite clearly wearing Turkish dress. Their task in life is to carry seven little flacons of perfume. And their oriental costume was intended to conjure up the scents of the orient. If it weren’t for the painstaking labour of restorers, however, you wouldn’t be able to see this object as it was originally created by a French master craftsman. The original flacons suffered from crizzling, often called “glass sickness”. It’s caused by an imbalance of ingredients in the original glass mixture. The flacons became opaque and had to be replaced by replicas.
During the process of restoration, a secret drawer was discovered under the feet of the litter-bearers. It contained a little card with a red heart on it – evidently, a message of love. Unfortunately, we don’t know who sent it, or whom it was intended for.
- Location & Dating
- France, probably Paris 1st quarter 18th century
- Material & Technique
- Ivory, gold, gilt silver, brass, set with precious stones (emeralds, rubies, diamonds), plinth: wood with tortoiseshell veneers and brass inlays; seven glass vials with gold screw caps
- Dimenions
- H gesamt 23,3 cm, Sockel: H 9,3 cm, L 19,3 cm, T 8,2 cm
- Museum
- Grünes Gewölbe
- Inventory number
- VI 242