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Small miniature ivory sculpture of Dieppe * depicting a woman called "Polletaise" sitting on a stool, very great finesse of execution, XIXth century.
This sculpture is in good condition.
A note: small accident and lack on the right foot, wear of time, see photos.
Dieppe sailors would have discovered Guinea before the Portuguese. In 1384, they would have brought back a large quantity of ivory, which would have been at the origin of the vocation of the Norman port. The proliferation of ivory workshops quickly gives Dieppe a preponderance in Europe in the field of the work of the tablet . In the 17th century, all kinds of religious objects , such as boxes, shuttles, fans, fly boxes, powder cases, and scientific instruments such as compasses, sundials, and the like are produced. famous tobacco graters, or "saucy" . In the 18th century, the new production is characterized by openwork and turned objects. Many objects are executed: cases carved, guilloche, fluted and cut with the saw, snuffboxes, shuttles for the ladies, knives, baskets, crucifixes common and other crucifixes "well finished" and of all sizes, figures of saints, fans, balls and billiard balls, dice, chess and dominoes . We must also mention the miniatures and portraits. The revolutionary period and the First Empire are not very favorable to the work of ivory. At the Restoration , the Countess de Berry settles there and the city becomes fashionable. His taste for Neo-Gothic then fits in the furniture as well as in all the production of objects of all kinds. The taste for ivory is very keen: we take with us as a souvenir or as a present ivory of local production. The craze continues until 1850. The appearance of Celluloid in 1869 is a fatal blow to this craft. The ivories of Dieppe are much sought after by collectors , depending on the quality of the decor and the theme.
Seaside tourism is another factor of development. For these new buyers, the ivory sculptors of Dieppe intensively produce the famous "polletais" and "polletaises". These small statuettes, appeared towards the end of the XVIIIe, show people of the people. Their etymology comes from Pollet, a popular seafaring district.
