ATTRIBUÉ À FRANÇOIS-DÉSIRÉ FROMENT-MEURICE (1801-1855)

Pewter cane knob "aux singes", preparatory work for the cane commissioned by Honoré de Balzac in September 1845. Height: 4 cm - Diameter: 4 cm (Wear, deformations) Mounted on a medlar cane. Total length: 86 cm In September 1845, Honoré de Balzac commissioned Froment-Meurice to make a cane with a knob carved with monkeys, as a gift for Georges Mniszech, future son-in-law of Madame Hanska. At first, Balzac was enthusiastic about the progress of the work, writing on September 12 and 13: "The cane will hardly cost more than four to five hundred francs. It will be delicious". To the goldsmith he writes: "mon cher Aurifaber, je vous remercie de votre canne aux singes, qui est d'une perfection inouie, et digne de vous." He then became annoyed at the goldsmith's slow execution, writing on January 10, 1846, "after six months, an unfortunate cane knob has not been made, that's what I call moral swindling". The cane was finally delivered in March 1846, and on May 30, 1846, Balzac wrote to Madame Hanska: "Froment-Meurice is informed of the failure of his cane, he will make a stamp of it, and put a carved iron knob on the cane." Our pewter knob, a preparatory work for the cane Balzac wanted, was probably submitted to him between September 1845 and March 1846. The Maison de Balzac in Paris has held a silver version of this cane since 1976 [N°BAL 135].