Sculpture / Curiosité

Statuette depicting a forgotten Parisian trade, bronze and malachite, inkwell in the figure's bag, +- 21.5cm including base. Museum: the same sculpture is in the Musée Carnavalet, Histoire de Paris, inventory number: S3315. Note: Coconut merchant, small trade, Paris Cree, itinerant merchant. The man carries a fountain on his back and cups attached to straps. He leans on a cane with one hand and holds a goblet in the other. He is dressed in a jacket, vest and apron. The fountain pipe is visible on the side. Coco or tisane is a refreshing drink made from licorice juice in lemon water. Coco began to be sold on the streets of Paris in the late 18th century and disappeared in the early 20th century. The merchant would announce himself by ringing a bell and shouting: "Coco, coco, coco frais! Who wants coco?" or "A la fraîche! à la fraîche! Who wants a drink?" or "A la fraiche, who wants a drink? two shots for a liard!