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Powder Box (Poudrier)
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
In the 1700s ornately enameled boxes became a popular accessory in the French court. These boxes often held powdered tobacco, called snuff. However, this box, which is unhinged, likely held powder, rouge, or face cream. Pageantry and performance were important aspects of social interaction during this period. The extravagant designs and associated functions of these boxes communicated social and political status.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit linePowder Box (Poudrier), 1779–80. Jean-Joseph Barrière (French). Enamel on gold; diameter: 1.8 x 5.5 cm (11/16 x 2 3/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. Edward B. Greene, 1957.403
