Une enquête au cœur des livres de comptes d’une émailleuse parisienne au xviiie siècle

Abstract

The account books are rich sources concerning the technical and commercial practices of craftsmen-traders. From these documents, it is possible to trace the professional networks, technical processes, and internal organization of a workshop such as that of enameller Marthe Jeanne Vincent. This case study examines all the information from her account books (1765-1777) -actors, materials and objects, sales and purchases, prices-that contribute to the history of 18th-century Parisian enameling. Several enameling techniques are practiced in the Marthe Jeanne Vincent's workshop: faux pearls, pulled enamel and enamel painting. These techniques and their implementation by the enameller, and those she employs, are evidence of a change in the manufacturing process in response to the new semi-luxury market that was taking off at the time Marthe Jeanne Vincent was running her store.