An old enameled plate bearing the inscription "OCRE BRUNE" (BROWN OCHRE), from a set of enameled plates that equipped the drawers of an old paint merchant's cabinet. Brown ochre is a natural mineral pigment composed mainly of clay and silica colored by iron oxides, used in painting for its brown tones and great stability. Paint merchants supplied pigments, paints, and various raw materials to painters, decorators, and artisans; their drawer cabinets allowed these numerous powders and preparations to be stored separately, each compartment identified by a plate like this one.
✦ Estimated period: Circa 1900-1920 ✦ Provenance: France, former paint merchant ✦ Dimensions: approx. 13 × 3 cm ✦ Material: Enameled plate ✦ Condition: Used condition, with significant enamel wear, scratches, small chips on the edge, and traces of oxidation.
Old "Ocre Brune" enameled plate, an authentic professional object related to natural pigments and old paint merchant shops.
