Sablé Beadwork, Coat of Arms, France, circa 1750
Price: $6400, Size of the picture: 7" x 9"

"Sablé" is the French word for "sand" and was used to describe the mid 18th century technique of stitching extremely fine glass beads to form a picture or to decorate a small object such as a wallet or purse; the scale of the glass beads must have inspired the name. Examples of this work are in the collections of American and European museums and become available only rarely. We are very pleased to offer this fascinating sablé picture which depicts the Chaix family coat of arms: a golden rampart lion wearing a crown of pearls, the entire piece surmounted itself by a jeweled crown. A pair of animated, graceful greyhounds provides support, as they stand on a lawn filled with little flowering plants, and a tight fleur-de-lis border surrounds the picture.

Information that accompanies this piece indicates that the Chaix line can be traced to the 15th century and that prominent family members lived in the town of Sisteron, on the Durance River in Provance. This coat of arms was registered with the general armorial of the town in 1696.

This picture is in excellent condition in its original carved and painted frame.