Straw Marquetry Case

This straw marquetry case has remained very fresh. It opens and reveals a bird and two hearts. A grotesque figure on the back and a harlequin figure on the other side. The straw work is sumptuous. Some minimal friction and wear but the whole remains fresh. The article is from the end of the 18th century.

Straw marquetry is an art very similar to that of wood marquetry, in which straw replaces wood veneer. It is a technique from the Far East that was imported to Europe (England, France) in the seventeenth century. To achieve a pallet similar to that of wood veneer, wheat or oat straw is split open and then soaked in cold, hot or warm water. The bands, when ironed more or less intensively, show a variety of tones ranging from light gold to the darkest dark brown. According to some accounting writings, nuns in France and Switzerland made various items using straw marquetry. The most famous straw marquetry in England is that which was practiced by prisoners of the Napoleonic wars. Dartmoor Prison and other prisons were built especially for them. The most famous for the straw marquetry was that of Norman Cross (Huntingdon). Easter eggs were decorated with an appliqué of straw, especially in Eastern European countries. The most common themes are geometric shapes, stars, and floral designs. There is, however, a slight difference in the way the straw is prepared: for marquetry, the straws are soaked, split and ironed, while for decoration, the straw is not ironed.

Sold as presented. The photos are an integral part of the description. Dimensions: Height: 13.2 cm Width: 2.1 cm Length: 4.2cm.