333 - A masterpiece by a master cabinetmaker,

A masterpiece by a master cabinetmaker, consisting of a set of 6 classic turned wooden forms. Loire Valley, 1912. H. 6.3 x D. 4 cm (for the smallest). H. 6.2 x D. 3.2 cm (cylinder). Included is a CDV-format photographic portrait of the journeyman seated, holding his journeyman’s cane, inscribed and dated on the back “B. V. Loire / 1912,” accompanied by the three dots arranged in a triangle, the symbol of the Compagnonnage. H. 9.8 x W. 6.7 cm. Provenance Henri Klinger Collection. History After several years of apprenticeship or training with a master craftsman, the future journeyman would undertake a Tour de France, during which he could acquire new technical skills and develop his professional experience. This Tour generally culminated in the creation of a masterpiece that had to be approved by a jury. Once accepted, the young aspirant was recognized as a master in his profession and awarded the title of Compagnon du Tour de France. Here, the practice of classical forms could only be successfully completed by a journeyman who had perfectly mastered the techniques of the three main specialties of woodworking: cabinetmaking, marquetry, and woodturning.