Combining refinement of decoration with practical usefulness,
these objects represent a clearly identifiable category within the world of
miniature furniture.
Thus particularly sophisticated boxes and containers such as boxes for phials
of salts or flasks of liqueurs, jewel cases, sweet boxes, sewing boxes, make-up
cases, clocks, or candleholders, took the form of miniature pieces of furniture.
Among these "containers" we find tables, chests of drawers, pianos, billiard
tables, beds, etc. They became so fashionable in the 18th century that 6,000
people were employed in Paris to manufacture such trinkets, knick-knacks, ivory
objects, combs and toilet items.
Here are some examples of the knick-knacks in the collection
(for detailed information about an object, click once on the image with the
left-hand button of the mouse)
