Travel Set

These sets provide an invaluable indication of men’s way of living under the First Empire. Each consists of a case holding a selection of very useful objects for various purposes that could be taken along on their trips or kept in their rooms in order to store everything in the tidiest manner.


The Napoleonic era and its European policy put tens of thousands of army officers and great numbers of diplomats on the move. Depending on the season, aristocrats and middle-class people travelled various distances to the various spa towns of the Empire. Craftsmen tried to outdo each other in ingenuity in offering their services to them.


This set has been put together using less luxurious materials, silver and ivory, and has a mahogany case. It was made by Balon, a leading fancy turner in Paris, whose establishment was located in the Palais-Royal neighbourhood.


Contents


- inkstand
- pen holder
- inkwell and powder flask
- resin
- two covered tumblers
- pair of pillboxes
- two flasks
- eyecup and funnel
- corkscrew
- four hooks
- shaving bowl
- shaving brush
- soap case
- pair of tubular containers
- strop
- unidentified sharp tool
- two picks
- pair of scissors
- toothbrush
- quill knife
- ear cleaner
- two razors
- two gimlets
- pocket knife
- mirror