Souvenir 1775 - 1781

This delicate “Souvenir” box was made in France, likely around the 1780s, by Louis Cousin. It is made of gold, glass, and paint. The painted decoration shows two cherubic figures. The black background of the box isn’t just a color choice; it’s made of woven hair. This slightly disquieting material was used to add a sense of mourning and remembrance to the object. The box’s function also plays into this theme; it was meant to hold a memento, a lock of hair, or a small portrait of a loved one, now lost. The delicate frame and painted miniatures are beautiful and precious, indicating the value placed on remembrance in 18th-century French culture. The production process involves skills from jewelry making and painting traditions. Ultimately, understanding the materials and the labor involved in creating this box allows us to appreciate its layers of meaning and the complex cultural values it embodies. It is a precious object, elevated through skillful manipulation of materials.