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One of a set of four counter boxes: M.17 & A-X-1938

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Titles

One of a set of four counter boxes

Maker(s)

Maker: Mariaval, Le Jeune

Entities

Categories

Description

Rectangular, ivory box painted in colours on a green ground; the lid inscribed 'apres les peines les plaisirs'

Ivory, engraved and painted in green, black yellow and pink, with gilt metal hinges. Rectangular, the base with straight sides. The moulded sides of the lid projecting slightly over the base. The two projecting hinges are pinned to a metal scroll inside the box. The upper surface and interior of the lid and the base are engraved in outline in black and painted on a green ground. The top of the lid is decorated with a roundel of Cupid approaching a thorny bush in the midst of which is a heart aflame. The scroll above the roundel is inscribed 'apres les peines les plaisirs'. The roundel is surrounded by scrolling foliage, flowers, pendant garlands and a shell in green, pink and yellow. At each corner is a swag of green fruit on a pink stippled ground. The inside of the lid is decorated with a dolphin surrounded by green, pink and yellow scrolling foliage and flowers within a black border beneath which is the inscription 'Mariaval le Jeune a Rouen fecit'. The base is decorated with a pink, green and yellow spray of three flowers in an ivory border. The box contains 19 long narrow counters decorated on both sides with a floral design on a green ground, and five elongated octagonal counters decorated on both sides with a green floral border, and numbered in black '5', '10', '20', '40' or '50'. Each counter is drilled with a small hole near the edge. (with M.14 & A-R-1938, M.15 & A-Z-1938 and M.16 & A-Y-1938)

Notes

History note: S.E. Kennedy; Christie, Manson & Woods, 18-22 March, 1918, Important collection of objects of art, antiquities, armour and arms, on 22 March,

Legal notes

L.D. Cunliffe Bequest, 1937

Measurements and weight

Height: 2.2 cm
Length: 8.7 cm
Width: 6.4 cm

Place(s) associated

  • Rouen ⪼ France

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1937) by Cunliffe, Leonard Daneham

Dating

18th Century, Early#
Circa 1720 CE - Circa 1730 CE

Note

Mariaval le Jeune was an engraver on ivory active in Rouen and Paris in the early to mid 18th century. He designed the card game Reversino (Reversis) in which the object is to avoid winning tricks. This set of four boxes is probably intended for this game.

This box is constructed differently to the three others in the set, in that the top of the lid is set into a frame rather than being carved from one piece of ivory.

School or Style

French

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Decoration composed of painting
Ivory

Materials used in production

Ivory

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: Mariaval le Jeune a Rouen fecit
  • Location: Inside the lid
  • Method of creation: Inscribed
  • Type: Signature
  • Text: apres les peines les plaisirs
  • Location: On the lid
  • Method of creation: Inscribed
  • Type: Motto
  • Text: B / 20 / L.M
  • Location: On the back between the two hinges
  • Method of creation: Ink on paper
  • Type: Paper label

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.17 & A-X-1938
Primary reference Number: 166625
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 22 February 2022 Last processed: Monday 18 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "One of a set of four counter boxes" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/166625 Accessed: 2024-03-29 13:08:02

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/166625 |title=One of a set of four counter boxes |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-03-29 13:08:02|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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