340 - A 12-pointed star-shaped polyhedron made of wood painted to resemble zinc,

A 12-pointed star-shaped polyhedron made of wood painted to resemble zinc, resting on a square, three-tiered base. Paris, 1909. Marked and dated “Paris 1909” on the base. H. 57 x W. 12.3 x D. 12.3 cm (at the base). 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 gain professional experience. This Tour typically culminated in the creation of a masterpiece that had to be approved by a jury. Once accepted, the young apprentice was recognized as a master in his profession and awarded the title of Compagnon du Tour de France. This star-shaped polyhedron is, in fact, a tribute from a master carpenter to the craftsmanship of the master roofers with whom carpenters often worked, particularly on the roofs of Haussmann-style buildings in Paris. In fact, to sign their work, roofers would sometimes crown the completed roof with one or more star-shaped polyhedrons made of zinc. The roof of the Chalet Suisse in Boulogne-Billancourt, west of Paris, is a remarkable example of this that can still be seen today.