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Source Description
The face of the grater is carved in low relief with the Tree of Jesse, illustrating the descent of Christ from the royal line of David. Jesse reclines asleep amid the roots of the tree. Flanking the trunk are two winged putti representing Virtues. One, on the left, bears scales and a trumpet, and the other, on the right, holds a cornucopia and a sword. Above the bifurcation of the trunk, the Virgin, holding the Infant Christ, stands on the crescent moon. Two adoring cherubs kneel on boughs at the Virgin's feet; cherubs holding the crown hover overhead. The kings are placed among leafy branches. Nine of them hold scepters, while the tenth, David, plays his harp. At the top hovers the dove of the Holy Ghost, flanked by the sun and the moon. Incised and blackened on scrolls at the top and bottom is the inscription: LAPURTE FAIT MON ESTIME DE GLOIRE ET D'HONNEUR LE CIEL MEN VIRONNE (I esteem purity; the sky surrounds me with glory and honor).The concave reverse of the grater is grooved and fitted with a central flange to accommodate a metal grate. Inscribed on the edge of the reverse is: JE SVIS CETTE RASPE CVRIEVZE DE QVI CHACHVN. EST AMOVREVEX. ON MEFLERE LON MECARESSE ET SOVENT JE SERS DE DIVERTISEMENT ENTRE LES MAINS DE MON MESTRE (I am this curious rasp of whom everyone is enamored. One sniffs me, one caresses me, and often I am a pleasure in the hands of my owner.)This tobacco grater differs in form from those associated with Dieppe in that it lacks a compartment to collect the grated snuff. Inscribed in ink on the reverse are two ciphers: A 185/BA and W 247c 99c. There is also a paper label bearing the number 154.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
29859
label
Tobacco Grater with Tree of Jesse
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
29859
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Tobacco Grater with Tree of Jesse
description
The face of the grater is carved in low relief with the Tree of Jesse, illustrating the descent of Christ from the royal line of David. Jesse reclines asleep amid the roots of the tree. Flanking the trunk are two winged putti representing Virtues. One, on the left, bears scales and a trumpet, and the other, on the right, holds a cornucopia and a sword. Above the bifurcation of the trunk, the Virgin, holding the Infant Christ, stands on the crescent moon. Two adoring cherubs kneel on boughs at the Virgin's feet; cherubs holding the crown hover overhead. The kings are placed among leafy branches. Nine of them hold scepters, while the tenth, David, plays his harp. At the top hovers the dove of the Holy Ghost, flanked by the sun and the moon. Incised and blackened on scrolls at the top and bottom is the inscription: LAPURTE FAIT MON ESTIME DE GLOIRE ET D'HONNEUR LE CIEL MEN VIRONNE (I esteem purity; the sky surrounds me with glory and honor).The concave reverse of the grater is grooved and fitted with a central flange to accommodate a metal grate. Inscribed on the edge of the reverse is: JE SVIS CETTE RASPE CVRIEVZE DE QVI CHACHVN. EST AMOVREVEX. ON MEFLERE LON MECARESSE ET SOVENT JE SERS DE DIVERTISEMENT ENTRE LES MAINS DE MON MESTRE (I am this curious rasp of whom everyone is enamored. One sniffs me, one caresses me, and often I am a pleasure in the hands of my owner.)This tobacco grater differs in form from those associated with Dieppe in that it lacks a compartment to collect the grated snuff. Inscribed in ink on the reverse are two ciphers: A 185/BA and W 247c 99c. There is also a paper label bearing the number 154.
provenance
[Paris]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1924, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
mid 18th century
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Ivory & Bone
graters
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
7 11/16 in. (19.6 cm)
Source extras
inscriptions
[Transcription] Incised and blackened on scrolls at the top and bottom of the front: LAPURTE FAIT MON ESTIME DE GLOIRE ET D'HONNEUR LE CIEL MEN VIRONNE; [Translation] I esteem purity; the sky surrounds me with glory and honor; [Transcription] Inscribed on the edge of the reverse: JE SVIS CETTE RASPE CVRIEVZE DE QVI CHACHVN. EST AMOVREVEX. ON MEFLERE LON MECARESSE ET SOVENT JE SERS DE DIVERTISEMENT ENTRE LES MAINS DE MON MESTRE; [Translation] I am this curious rasp of whom everyone is enamored. One sniffs me
one caresses me
and often I am a pleasure in the hands of my owner; [Transcription] Inscribed in ink on the reverse: A 185/BA; [Transcription] Inscribed in ink on the reverse: W 247c 99c; [Number] On a paper label: 154
med
ivory
creator_ids
6229
collection_ids
EAN
exhibition_ids
none
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
0a8b982c862760b4