Powder Box (Poudrier)
Medium
enamel on gold
Dimensions
1.8 × 5.5 cm
Classification
Miscellaneous
Department
Decorative Art and Design
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Edward B. Greene
Accession Number
1957.403
Tags
About this artwork
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.
About the Artist
Jean-Joseph Barrière (French)
Georges Hugnet (1906–1974) was a multifaceted French artist, poet, writer, and critic whose innovative collages and graphic works bridged Dada and Surrealism. Born in Paris on July 11, 1906, he spent much of his early childhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina, returning to France around 1913. His early life and artistic training remain sparsely documented, with no records of formal art school attendanc...